{"id":15660,"date":"2025-09-23T00:09:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T17:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/school.inti.foundation\/?p=15660"},"modified":"2026-10-01T05:28:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T22:28:46","slug":"thien-dinh-la-gi-va-ban-co-thuc-su-hieu-dung","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/school.inti.foundation\/en\/thien-dinh-la-gi-va-ban-co-thuc-su-hieu-dung\/","title":{"rendered":"What is meditation, and do you truly understand it correctly?"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. Understanding meditation correctly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    When mentioning meditation<\/strong>, many imagine a state of \u201cemptiness\u201d\u2014where the mind becomes quiet, without thoughts. This is a common misunderstanding, especially in methods such as mindfulness or breath meditation, which focus heavily on observation and calming the mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It is true that a state of emptiness can bring temporary relief. But if you stop at force the mind to be empty<\/strong>, like \u201cpressing grass down with a stone,\u201d whatever is suppressed will soon rise again. Just as a sudden shower can make grass grow thickly again in our minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Meditation<\/strong>, stopping at \u201czero mind\u201d will lead to exhaustion. A moment of inattention is enough for negative emotions to surge back, leaving practitioners overwhelmed and losing faith, then exclaiming: \u201cWhy have I meditated for so many years without results?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. The true purpose of meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      The ultimate purpose of meditation<\/strong> is not to make you empty but to help you become yourself \u2014 whole, profound, and aware. Especially in Awakening Meditation<\/strong>, emptiness is only the starting point, a \u201cstepping stone\u201d for continuing into the infinite depths of consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You do not meditate to have nothing left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You meditate to become everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      When you meditate deeply enough, you realize that an entire universe lies within you. We are not merely a small ego \u2014 we are part of the whole. Emptiness, at its culmination, is also fullness. That is emptiness<\/strong> through fullness<\/strong> \u2013 a beautiful paradox of the spiritual journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      3. Does meditation belong to Buddhism or religion?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Another misconception is meditation<\/strong> belongs to Buddhism. This is not wrong, but it is not the whole picture. The Buddha attained enlightenment through meditation \u2014 and in Buddhism, meditation is an extremely important practice. However, meditation<\/strong> existed before the Buddha's time. Many enlightened figures in antiquity also used meditation as a means of escaping suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Therefore, meditation does not belong to any religion<\/a><\/strong>. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and atheists can all meditate. No one is excluded. Suffering is shared. So the remedy is shared too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Prayer is a conversation with God. Meditation<\/strong> is listening to Him from within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        4. Everyone can meditate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Meditation is not reserved for a special group of people. Meditation is a primal human instinct<\/strong>, like breathing, like listening. Everyone can approach meditation in their own way, starting with the breath, the body, or an intention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          You do not need to be \u201cadvanced\u201d to meditate. You only need return<\/strong> \u2013 deep enough and real enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          5. Setting an intention \u2014 the first step toward effective meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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            Before sitting down to meditate, set a pure intention<\/strong>. It may be a prayer or an inner goal\u2014but it must arise from goodness, wisdom, and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            An intention such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n