Read an article this morning in Shambhala Sun (September 2002) by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana entitled Why Meditate. The pronouciation of his name notwithstanding, the article was one of the best explanations of meditation I've read. His premise is that you can not "move on" until you have thoroughly looked at yourself. Here is my favorite quote:

Somewhere in this process [of meditation], you will come face to face with the sudden and shocking realization that you are completely crazy. Your mind is a shrieking, gibbering madhouse on wheels barreling pell-mell down the hill, utterly out of control and hopeless.

No problem.

You are not crazier than you were yesterday. It has always been this way, and you just never noticed. You are also no crazier than everybody else around you. The only real difference is that you have confronted the situation; they have not.

The solution? The meditation process retrains your mind to see you for what you are, and this process also help to change you. Another quote from the article:

You can't make radical changes in the pattern of your life until you begin to see yourself exactly as you are now. As soon as you do that, changes will flow naturally. You don't have to force anything, struggle, or obey rules dictated to you by some authority. It is automatic; you just change. (italics mine)

The article was adapted from his book, Mindfulness in Plain English (Wisdom Publications), and I think I may have to read this book.

By my reaction to the article was the comparison of Buddhism meditation with Western therapy and my own Christian background. All three seem to offer the same things … free from the turmoil of your diseased mind, and they have the similar orientations; namely, look deeply into your conscious and subconscious mind to see yourself for the sinful nut-house that you are.

Western therapy attempts to treat by answering the biggest problem that is under your surface, and by addressing that, you can now continue to ride the roller-coaster (albeit smaller) that everyone else is constantly riding.

The Christian solution is different … once you see your sinful nature and if you behave correctly, you will find rest when you die... and this future eternal rest should give you rest here and now.

This Buddhist solution (specifically this Vipassana meditation) is slightly different. If you really see yourself for what you are, the process for seeing yourself is the same process that will transform you, and give you this total rest right now. Sounds good … where do I sign up?