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The Place
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I have a friend who is a Buddhist monk. He lives in a small temple on Mt. Bukhan in Seoul. He meditates three times a day in front of a gilt statue of the Buddha and sometimes takes a vow of silence. Even though we have known each other for more than twenty years, he rarely speaks about his meditation.
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One day, I asked him about the purpose of his practice. He calmly replied, “I devote myself to meditation because I believe it will bring me to a place where I no longer struggle with dukkha—sorrow, suffering, pain, dissatisfaction, or disappointment.”
He added, “No dukkha means ‘No-Self,’ which is enlightenment.”
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Since that conversation, I have often tried to visualize the place my friend wishes to reach.
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