📖 Introduction
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by life that even breathing seemed difficult? When stress, responsibilities, and accumulated emotions weigh heavily on our minds, we can begin to feel trapped inside our own thoughts. We struggle to understand others, become frustrated when things don’t go our way, and carry emotional burdens that leave both mind and body exhausted.
Sometimes, the constant demands of everyday life make it difficult to find even a moment for ourselves. Between family responsibilities, relationships, and the endless distractions of our phones, we rarely experience the freedom of stepping away from everything and simply looking within.
But what happens when we begin to let go of the thoughts that keep us confined? What if understanding ourselves more deeply could also change the way we understand everyone around us?
In this post, two practitioners share their experiences of discovering inner freedom through mind subtraction meditation. A 57-year-old describes arriving physically and emotionally exhausted, initially struggling to experience any change, and eventually finding a profound sense of calm, understanding, and gratitude. Meanwhile, a 42-year-old shares how temporarily disconnecting from everyday responsibilities and digital distractions created an opportunity for self-reflection and an unexpected feeling of liberation.
Read their inspiring stories to discover how releasing accumulated thoughts, reflecting on your true nature, and stepping away from daily distractions can open the door to greater emotional freedom and inner peace.
💬 Story 1: 🌿 “Escaping From My Mind, There’s Nothing I Can’t Understand and Nothing to Struggle Over”
By Shin Yeong-hui / Age 57 / Level 2
I admitted myself in a state where my mind and body were exhausted and heavy, and I felt shortness of breath.
On Saturday and Sunday, I couldn’t feel any change and remained feeling suffocated. I even thought I should just leave since it didn’t seem like it would help, but as I kept discarding my mind, a ray of hope appeared on Monday.
Then I felt blocked again, but on Tuesday it was refreshingly discarded once more, and gradually I started to understand the mind of the universe. On Wednesday, I realized my true nature.
I came in with my mind and body exhausted, but as I discarded my mind, my body naturally improved.
As time went by, my consciousness, which was initially trapped inside me, expanded, and looking from the mind of the universe…
“There is nothing I can’t understand, and nothing to struggle over. The other person and I seem to be exactly the same. What I want seems to be exactly what the other person wants too.”
A calm mind spread, bringing stability, and gratitude was conveyed.
Thank you to the guides. Thank you to everyone who was with me.
#Composure #MindAndBodyHealth #Enlightenment #Gratitude #TrueNature
💬 Story 2: 🌅 “Freedom From the World, a Time Focused Solely on Myself”
By Kim Ju-il / Age 42 / Level 1
First of all, starting the practice by handing in my mobile phone kept me from being tied down to the world, and I feel freedom.
Perhaps because it’s a fast-paced schedule, I don’t think I thought about my house, husband, or son for almost a whole week.
Truly feeling and enjoying freedom from the world, not being conscious of others, and focusing entirely on myself was a very novel time.
It was a tight schedule, but the moment I realized that the universe is the original me, I felt an indescribable, wide-open feeling in my chest; I was as joyful as if I had found a light in a pitch-black world.
“I thought this feeling was the reward for the tight week.”
I resolve to wrap up the remaining schedule well and continue devoting myself to practice steadily even after returning.
#Freedom #TrueNature
🌱 NEXT STEPS: Free Yourself From Mental Burdens and Discover Inner Peace
Do you feel constantly overwhelmed by responsibilities, emotional stress, or thoughts that never seem to stop? Perhaps your mind remains occupied with work, family, relationships, and everyday concerns, leaving little opportunity to reflect on yourself.
When we become deeply absorbed in our own thoughts and experiences, even small disagreements or unexpected situations can feel like major obstacles. We may struggle to understand others because we are viewing everything through the expectations and memories accumulated in our minds.
Mind subtraction meditation offers a systematic method of looking back on these mental pictures and practicing the process of letting them go. Rather than simply distracting yourself from difficult thoughts, the practice encourages you to reflect on the mind through which you experience the world.
As these two practitioners describe, that process can bring different kinds of personal discoveries. One experienced a gradual transition from exhaustion and frustration to calmness, gratitude, and greater understanding of others. The other discovered the refreshing freedom of temporarily disconnecting from daily responsibilities and focusing on self-reflection.
Their stories remind us that inner freedom does not necessarily require changing everything around us. Sometimes, a new perspective begins when we examine the thoughts we have been carrying.
Discover what it feels like to live with a lighter mind, greater understanding, and a renewed sense of peace.
👉 Book a Free Introductory Session at Santa Clara Meditation: https://santaclarameditation.org/free-meditation-introduction
