Something that will save me from the harsh reality.
My joy is full, and I want to convey it to you!
Meet the Monsbook Essay Series 'To Me'

Part 1, "Meditation for Me"
For those considering taking the first step toward self-care
"Mind Defense" Recommends Meditation

Living a glamorous life as a successful advertising professional
The author, who was ‘coveting’ a good house and a good car
Meditation has given me a different perspective on life.
I want to share that change and experience, so I am publishing the essay, “Meditation for Me.”

This is an honest and vivid record of 10 years of meditation by advertising expert Lee Geun-sang, who planned hit advertising campaigns such as Hyundai Card's "Hard Worker, Now Leave" and published the best-selling marketing book "This is a Book for Small Brands."


Letting go of the desire for my feelings to 'always be like that'.
Break free from the compulsion to feel calm or joyful all day long.
The goal of meditation is not to get rid of the monkeys that run wild in our heads regardless of our will, but to get along with them.


“Guests like anger, frustration, and depression are bound to come.
It takes a tremendous amount of effort and expense to lock the door and prevent their visits, and eventually they will somehow break through.
When guests come, you just need to maintain an objective attitude and observe their visit.
“It takes 5 minutes at the shortest and a day or two at the longest to leave.” - From the text

Meditation slows down your thoughts.
When you slow down your thinking, you can spend more time.
To be more precise, the gap between thoughts becomes longer and you become more aware of the gap between them.
It gives you the time to objectively look at the wound from the first arrow, and the mental space to let go of your obsession with the other person instead of hastily shooting the second arrow at yourself.
Meditation is the best self-defense technique.

--- p.27 From “The Second Arrow”

If you don't want to turn your head into a monkey world, you have to train the monkey.
Noticing that a thought has arisen and returning to the breath is the process of calming the monkey.
By repeating this process, the number of monkey appearances and the duration of time are reduced.
And not evaluating the thought or the act of thinking itself is like trying to avoid fighting the monkeys one by one.
It's a story about not doing the tiring work of nagging a monkey about why he was running wild and making him promise never to run around again.
--- p.39 From “The Identity of the Monkey in My Head”

Guests like anger, frustration, and depression are bound to come.
It takes a tremendous amount of effort and expense to lock the door and prevent their visits, and eventually they will somehow break through.
When guests come, you just need to maintain an objective attitude and observe their visit.
It takes 5 minutes at the shortest and a day or two at the longest to leave.
--- p.45 From “On Aging”

What does it mean to "truly do nothing"? It's not easy to explain this to someone who hasn't meditated.
I often explain it this way using an analogy based on personal experience.
It's like the feeling you get when you come home exhausted in body and mind and throw yourself on the sofa with a sigh of relief, or the feeling you get when you soak your body, chilled by the chilly weather, in a warm bath and unconsciously let out a moan of pleasure, "Ugh~", without thinking about anything.
So the brain enters a state of true rest, doing nothing for a while.

--- p.56 From “The Heart is Made into a Book”

As you meditate, your selfishness will decrease and your altruistic mind will grow.
I am able to let go of my worries about myself and gain the strength to look after others.
So, interest in people in difficult situations and in living well together is growing.
Perhaps this influence also contributed to a growing sensitivity to environmental issues.
I became a strong supporter of the argument that the environmental problems that must be sacrificed to produce the meat we enjoy are serious.

--- p.63 From “Three Years of Vegetarianism”

People don't change.
I've met people who seem to have changed (or pretended to) for a while, but I don't think I've ever met someone who has truly changed.
Water cannot become fire, nor can fire become water.
When water tries, it becomes clearer, and when enlightenment comes, fire becomes brighter.
Meditation does not turn an angry person into a kind person.
However, by making you objectively aware of the fact that you are an angry person and the feeling that anger has come to you, you can prevent, or at least reduce, being unnecessarily dragged around by anger.
If you dream of transforming humanity through meditation, it is better not to start in the first place.
Meditation is not about changing people.

--- p.98 From “Do People Change?”

I need to focus on the ‘me’ who is ‘here’ and ‘now’.
This is the mindfulness that people talk about these days.
It is translated as 'mindfulness', and simply put, it means paying attention to and observing what I am doing here and now, that is, noticing.
The method is not difficult.
When you eat, be aware of eating; when you drive, be aware of the act of driving itself; when you fold laundry, be aware of folding laundry.
Whether it's mindfulness or awareness, why is it important and helpful? When you focus on "that thing," you can experience the happiness it brings.

--- p.115 From “Eating Meditation”

If focusing on your breathing and meditating gives your brain a chance to completely rest, immersing yourself in something you enjoy injects your brain with positive energy.
You should set aside a set amount of time each day to focus on something you enjoy.
Sit still and reflect on yesterday.
Create a 24-hour time sheet.
How much time do you allocate to the things you enjoy? Are you spending too much time on your phone or watching TV, under the guise of relaxation? Are your evenings filled with drinking appointments?
--- p.137 From “The Joy of Immersion”

People who are good at complaining are mostly always unhappy.
Whenever something bad happens to you, always apply the conditional sentence, "If only you hadn't done that."
So I can't help but be angry.
How angry would you be if something bad happened because you did nothing wrong and the other person didn't do what you wanted?
On the one hand, I can understand it, but on the other hand, I think it's really unfortunate.
If you can't do what you want yourself, how can you expect others to do what you want?

--- p.156 From “At the Dentist”

It's embarrassing, but at the time, I think my interests were what clothes to wear, what car to drive, and what kind of house to live in.
I don't think it's bad to wear nice clothes and drive an expensive car.
But it is problematic for it to become an absolute indicator of a good life.
It's a big problem.
Because ‘greed’ never stops.
Tam believes in the dogma of 'the more, the better' and the more the better.
Good things lead to better things, expensive things lead to more expensive things.
The stopper 'up to here' doesn't work.
I think so too.

--- p.166 From "Drinking Seawater"

Everything in the world has a front and a back.
Where there is action, there is bound to be a reaction, and behind every bright side there is bound to be a shadow.
So what lies beneath the surface of depression? Can we find something positive behind these gloomy emotions? Yes.
First, admit that you have fallen and (actually) lie face down on the floor.
There's one thing to do before that.
You must find and play Max Bruch's 'Kol Nidrei'.
Any performer would be fine, but for a day like this, the cello melody of British cellist Jacqueline du Pre is perfect.
You don't need to know the sublime meaning contained in this music.
As you listen to music, you can feel your feelings of depression subtly change.

--- p.172 From "Don't try too hard to stand up"