Years ago I published in an Israeli newspaper an article about meditation, and in it I wrote that, when I sit in meditation, I connect with the timeless, infinite dimension of existence.
The article received many comments, including one that stopped me in my track. That commentator simply wrote: "I think that you sit to meditate assuming that in mediation you will connect to the timeless, infinite dimension of existence, and then you interpret your experience accordingly."
To be honest, when I first read the comment my response was to inwardly curse the @#$%^& person who wrote that cynical comment, obviously without having any experience or understanding of meditation... But that comment stayed with me, and a couple of days later I realized she was right. I remember that moment -- it was like stepping under a cold shower.
That event started somewhat of a turning point in my spiritual journey. It forced me to look at the way I interpreted my experience and recognize the assumptions behind that interpretation. This has become a powerful practice and key to my spiritual search and academic research.
In a recent conversation with a friend I recounted that story. Here it is.