Three Minute Meditator

I used to scoff at the idea of reading The Three Minute Meditator by David Harp and all the rest of the spiritual and Eastern philosophy books that my wife owned. But when I felt a deep sense of spiritual emptiness last year, I finally gave it a try.

I have not attained enlightenment. That is too much to ask for. But I am happy I read the book for I feel I now have a tool to observe the mind and, little by little, control it. I never realized how powerful the mind works until I tried meditating. I still find myself surrendering to the emotion instead of observing the thought, but I find the awareness liberating.

Everything that causes mental pain begins with a thought. And if the thought can be observed, then mastered, then the pain itself can be avoided or, at least, mastered. If I can integrate meditation into my daily life, I will react better to setbacks. I will overcome them faster. Not only will be a more effective person, I will also be a happier person because I will learn to live in the now.

On the Road

Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty are today's equivalent of people going through a quarter-life crisis. In their case, however, both having failed at their marriage, they seem to have never overcome the crisis. They are a bunch of beat men, hitchhiking and driving across the country several times just for kicks. Life is a series of adventures with no particular goal except to run out of land and reach the sea, the end of the road.

On the Road is a mad series of journeys across America, taking in the thrills of drinking and drugs and jazz music with little regard for the past or the future or the families left behind. It was great to be part of this journey knowing I myself cannot take it for then I would have to be mad or intoxicated as Dean was. Still, it has kindled a desire to be on the road, to see wide expanses of land, to drive up and down mountains, to reach the sea.