--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Meditation doesn’t lead to enlightenment…" description: "\"“Meditation doesn’t lead to enlightenment because in meditation the ego is trying to destroy the ego.”\" — Donald O'Donovan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/donald-o-donovan-22817_buddhism_meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment_88039.jpg" --- # Meditation doesn’t lead to enlightenment because in… ![“Meditation doesn’t lead to enlightenment because in meditation the ego is trying to destroy the ego.” quote by Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/donald-o-donovan-22817_buddhism_meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment_88039.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/donald-o-donovan-22817_buddhism_meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment_88039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/donald-o-donovan-22817_buddhism_meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment_88039.jpg) > ““Meditation doesn’t lead to enlightenment because in meditation the ego is trying to destroy the ego.”” [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Meditation that attempts to annihilate the ego may reinforce egoic patterns, preventing true insight. **In simple terms:** Destroying ego in meditation is counterproductive. Key Takeaway Ego‑destruction hinders enlightenment. Themes spirituality meditation psychology ego Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - guided mindfulness sessions - psychotherapy focusing on self‑compassion - y retreats Key Concepts self‑attachment paradox Practical Applications - focus on observing thoughts without judgment - cultivate self‑acceptance before seeking transcendence Questions to Reflect On - What does ‘ego’ mean to you in practice? - How might acceptance differ from destruction in spiritual work? A Different Perspective Some traditions view ego dissolution as essential; the claim may not apply universally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Homelessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homelessness/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) ## Related quotes > [Is there a meditation that is not the ego trying to become? Is meditation conscious if every effort implies time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/is-there-a-meditation-that-is-not-the-ego-trying-to-become-is/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Reality is simply the loss of ego. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity. Because the ego is no entity it will automatically vanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/reality-is-simply-the-loss-of-ego-destroy-the-ego-by-seeking-its/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Enlightenment, meditation is really a shift in perception. It's not a thing that you go and do or become, since you're already that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightenment-meditation-is-really-a-shift-in-perception-it-s-not-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [My mother's a Buddhist. In Buddhism, if you want to achieve enlightenment, you have to do it through meditation and self-improvement through the mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/my-mother-s-a-buddhist-in-buddhism-if-you-want-to-achieve/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [That's just your ego, trying to make sure it stays in charge. This is what ego does. It keeps you feeling separate, keeps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/that-s-just-your-ego-trying-to-make-sure-it-stays-in-charge-this-is/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Reaching beyond ourselves, exceeding our mind is not a simple thing. It is, in fact, impossible–one half of the Ego is trying to exceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-m-wanderer/reaching-beyond-ourselves-exceeding-our-mind-is-not-a-simple-thing-it/) [Frank M. Wanderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-m-wanderer/) > [I equate ego with trying to figure everything out instead of going with the flow. That closes your heart and your mind to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/i-equate-ego-with-trying-to-figure-everything-out-instead-of-going/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Meditation doesn't have to be complicated. What I do is about as simple as you can get. You could just count the beads, one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/meditation-doesn-t-have-to-be-complicated-what-i-do-is-about-as/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“Even if meditation doesn’t work for you, try going for walks more often. Clear your mind. Ease your anxieties. Actively try to do less.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-francon/even-if-meditation-doesn-t-work-for-you-try-going-for-walks-more/) [Dominique Francon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-francon/) > [Mindfulness meditation doesn't change life. Life remains as fragile and unpredictable as ever. Meditation changes the heart's capacity to accept life as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/mindfulness-meditation-doesn-t-change-life-life-remains-as-fragile-2/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [Meditation doesn't lead you to silence; meditation only creates the situation in which the silence happens. And this should be the criterion - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/meditation-doesn-t-lead-you-to-silence-meditation-only-creates-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [We could say that meditation doesn't have a reason or doesn't have a purpose. In this respect it's unlike almost all other things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/we-could-say-that-meditation-doesn-t-have-a-reason-or-doesn-t-have-a/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Experiencing the silence of meditation doesn't have to be complicated. You can lie on the floor with arms and legs outspread, paying attention to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/experiencing-the-silence-of-meditation-doesn-t-have-to-be-complicated/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Mindfulness meditation doesn't change life. Life remains as fragile and unpredictable as ever. Meditation changes the heart's capacity to accept life as it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/mindfulness-meditation-doesn-t-change-life-life-remains-as-fragile/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“They needed someone to hate, a tangible focus for their remorse and disappointment, and I’d been elected, the projection of their own inner hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/they-needed-someone-to-hate-a-tangible-focus-for-their-remorse-and/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) ## More by Donald O'Donovan > [“They needed someone to hate, a tangible focus for their remorse and disappointment, and I’d been elected, the projection of their own inner hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/they-needed-someone-to-hate-a-tangible-focus-for-their-remorse-and/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“And when Prohibition came along, Dr. Sharpe’s Shakti Tonic took off like a rocket, mostly due to its hefty eighteen percent alcohol content.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/and-when-prohibition-came-along-dr-sharpe-s-shakti-tonic-took-off/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“My grandfather was a railroad brakeman, sixty years with the D&H. I'd sit on his lap when I was little, I remember, at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/my-grandfather-was-a-railroad-brakeman-sixty-years-with-the-d-h-i-d/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“Compassion goes out looking for suffering, scouring the earth for poverty and misery and pain, the same way the cops look for criminals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/compassion-goes-out-looking-for-suffering-scouring-the-earth-for/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“I love LA! The freeways, the cars, the smog, the glitter, the glitz, the sleaze, the prostitutes, the poison that falls from the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/i-love-la-the-freeways-the-cars-the-smog-the-glitter-the-glitz-the/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“The enemy never sleeps!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/the-enemy-never-sleeps/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“Los Angeles, this anthill, this slag heap, the city where I suffered and grappled with life and was defeated, and where I finally triumphed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/los-angeles-this-anthill-this-slag-heap-the-city-where-i-suffered-and/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“The neon dust falls slowly, filtering through the stone canyons, settling on hats and fire hydrants, collecting on delicatessen awnings, filling the shopping carts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/the-neon-dust-falls-slowly-filtering-through-the-stone-canyons/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“I was born under that star, the dung-beetle star.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/i-was-born-under-that-star-the-dung-beetle-star/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“Like the dung beetle, I had my comfortable burrow and my ball of sustenance, and like the dung beetle I was happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/like-the-dung-beetle-i-had-my-comfortable-burrow-and-my-ball-of/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“Los Angeles is a mother that devours her children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/los-angeles-is-a-mother-that-devours-her-children/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“Nowhere do you see a real, integrated, full-blooded man or woman who shines like a beacon in this sea of disjointedness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/nowhere-do-you-see-a-real-integrated-full-blooded-man-or-woman-who/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“Your lifelong rebellion against all forms of authority stems from the infant’s desire to murder the father and possess the mother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/your-lifelong-rebellion-against-all-forms-of-authority-stems-from-the/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“I’m back at Lafayette Park after a trip to the Bodhi Tree Bookstore, not to look at the books but to rub up against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/i-m-back-at-lafayette-park-after-a-trip-to-the-bodhi-tree-bookstore/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [“I’m living the life of an urban hunter-gatherer—again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/i-m-living-the-life-of-an-urban-hunter-gatherer-again/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) [Explore all 27 Donald O'Donovan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) [Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Meditation doesn’t lead to enlightenment because in meditation the ego is trying to destroy the ego.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald O'Donovan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment-because-in-meditation-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment-because-in-meditation-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/donald-o-donovan-22817_buddhism_meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment_88039.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/donald-o-donovan-22817_buddhism_meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment_88039.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/donald-o-donovan-22817_buddhism_meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment_88039.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Meditation doesn’t lead to enlightenment because in meditation the ego is trying to destroy the ego.” — Donald O'Donovan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Donald O'Donovan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Meditation doesn’t lead to enlightenment because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment-because-in-meditation-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/meditation-doesn-t-lead-to-enlightenment-because-in-meditation-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```