Why Meditation Could Be the Missing Piece in Your Life.

Why Do We Meditate? A Journey Through Stillness and Self

People come to meditation for many reasons — to relieve stress, to find peace, to feel “zen,” or simply because it’s part of a yoga class. Some begin for healing, others for clarity, and some for no reason other than curiosity.

For me, meditation started when I began my Reiki practice years ago. We were encouraged to dedicate an hour a day to Reiki self-healing, which naturally included meditation. In the beginning, I was consistent. Then, like many of us, life shifted. Daily practice became three times a week, then once a week, and eventually none.

Still, I found moments. After my yoga practice at home, meditation became an excuse to lie down a little longer. Sometimes I drifted into sleep; on good days, I slipped into self-inquiry, where answers flowed in without effort.

Losing Zen at a Retreat

Fast forward to 2024. I attended a full-day retreat at Bali Meditation. I imagined peace, stillness, and a serene smile just like everyone else around me. Instead, I felt restless. I noticed smells from outdoors, my body was uncomfortable, and the harder I tried to “be zen,” the more agitated I felt. Eventually, I gave up trying.

I went home, continued my casual monthly practice, but meditation still felt elusive.

A Shift I Couldn’t Explain

Then in June 2025, I discovered that Thai monks were leading meditation every Sunday at one of my favorite yoga studios. I joined with no expectations, just an open heart. That day, something shifted.

For the first time, I felt peace — not forced, not imagined, but real. My mind was not “everywhere.” It simply rested in the moment. The hour passed like minutes. I felt a quiet smile rising from deep within my heart space, something words can’t fully capture.

In July, I returned to Bali Meditation for another one-day retreat. The moment I stepped beyond the gates, I sensed calmness and spaciousness in the air. The meditations unfolded gently. Four sessions, each an hour long, but none felt heavy. My mind wasn’t filled with thoughts, nor was it asleep. It was still. Empty yet alive.

I realized — meditation is not about trying. It’s about allowing.

Different Paths, Same Stillness

There are many ways people approach meditation. While the essence is stillness, each tradition offers its own flavor:

1. Thai Buddhist Monks (Theravāda Tradition)

• Focus: Vipassanā (insight) & Samatha (calm abiding).

• Method: Observing breath, sensations, thoughts. Walking meditation is common.

• Goal: Liberation through understanding impermanence, suffering, and non-self.

• Vibe: Simple, grounded, disciplined, silence-based.

  
  

2. Tibetan Monks (Vajrayāna Tradition)

• Focus: Visualization, mantra chanting, compassion practices.

• Method: Deity yoga, Tonglen (breathing in suffering, breathing out compassion), Mahamudra/Dzogchen (awareness of true nature).

• Goal: Enlightenment through compassion and wisdom.

• Vibe: Ritualistic, colorful, with bells, mantras, thangkas.

  
  

3. Mooji Baba (Advaita / Self-Inquiry)

• Focus: “Who am I?” direct self-inquiry.

• Method: Turning awareness inward, noticing presence itself.

• Goal: Realization of pure awareness beyond identity.

• Vibe: Heart-centered, devotional, simple, no ritual.

  
  

4. Other Popular Teachers & Styles

• Thích Nhất Hạnh (Zen, Vietnam) → Everyday mindfulness, gentle and poetic.

• Sadhguru (Isha Foundation) → Kriya yoga, dynamic meditations, modern frameworks.

• Osho → Movement, shaking, catharsis, then stillness. Expressive and rebellious.

• Zen (Japan/China) → Zazen (“just sitting”), koans, minimalist discipline.

✨ The Essence

• Thai monks → Mindfulness & insight.

• Tibetan monks → Compassion & visualization.

• Mooji → Presence & self-inquiry.

• Zen → Direct simplicity.

• Modern teachers → Their own blends of structure, energy, or poetry.

  
  

Why We Truly Meditate

At first, many of us meditate for stress relief, relaxation, or curiosity. But along the way, meditation reveals something deeper — the quiet joy of simply being.

For me, it has become less about seeking peace and more about remembering peace is already here.

Today, for instance, I practiced a simple walking meditation for 30 minutes. Without my phone in hand, walking itself felt more purposeful. At first, I was aware of where I was heading, but 20 minutes in I caught myself wondering: Why haven’t I arrived yet? Where is the café I was heading? Then the thought came — I will arrive when I arrive. Why the impatience?

And in that moment, I knew: I am on the right path, without a doubt. The destination is certain. What matters is the walk itself. The presence in each step.

That is what meditation teaches us — daily awareness, patience, and the gentle reminder to enjoy the journey.