What is meditation? What is leaving one's body? What is…
““What is meditation? What is leaving one's body? What is fasting? What is holding one's breath? It is fleeing from the self, it is a short escape of the agony of being a self, it is a short numbing of the senses against the pain and the pointlessness of life. The same escape, the same short numbing is what the driver of an ox-cart finds in the inn, drinking a few bowls of rice-wine or fermented coconut-milk. Then he won't feel his self any more, then he won't feel the pains of life any more, then he finds a short numbing of the senses. When he falls asleep over his bowl of rice-wine, he'll find the same what Siddhartha and Govinda find when they escape their bodies through long exercises, staying in the non-self.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Escaping self‑identity through sensory numbing offers temporary relief from existential pain.
In simple terms: Fleeing self gives brief numbness.
Key Takeaway
Seek lasting meaning beyond short escapes.
Themes
existentialism
spirituality
escape
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- meditation
- addiction
- grief coping
Key Concepts
self‑transcendence
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- What lasting practices replace fleeting escapes?
- How does numbness affect personal growth?
A Different Perspective
Numbing may avoid confronting deeper issues.