Doubts on the Path
What should we do when we’re unsure whether complete liberation is possible?
A Meditator’s Question:
I can see that meditation may reduce suffering and lead to much greater well-being, but I’m uncertain whether complete and permanent freedom from suffering is actually possible.
I also know that part of the process involves realizing “what I really am,” but I’m not convinced there is a single correct answer to that question.
In short, I have doubts about this journey.
How would you suggest I address them?
Oded’s Answer:
To begin, I’m glad you’re open to the possibility of profound relief from suffering, even if you’re not sure it can be complete. The mind often plays the game of “all or nothing” - “either I’ll be a gold-medal Olympian, or there’s no use doing sports,” or, in our context, “either I’ll become a Buddha, or there’s no use meditating.”
In truth, it is wonderful to grow stronger, both physically and mentally, regardless of any comparison to some ideal. And often, we discover that we have become stronger than we ever imagined. It is the triumph of what is good enough over the fantasy of perfection.
Beyond that, I agree that the question “what I really am” doesn’t have a single correct answer. Furthermore, the deepest answer to that question transcends conceptual and discursive definitions. It is an intuitive realization - a profound, liberating insight that usually presents itself in deep meditation. That is what reveals itself further up the path. The very fact that you don’t automatically reply, “I am the character in my narrative mind,” and that you hold a more nuanced worldview, suggests that you are already heading in the right direction.
Your doubts, like all doubts, are a natural and valid response to the open-ended questions we encounter on the path to Awakening. They serve as a protective mechanism that helps keep us from harm, not merely a hindrance.
So, how should we address them?
I strongly believe in healthy skepticism and in approaching the spiritual journey in a rational, evidence-based way. This means we don’t let our doubts end the journey prematurely - we continue our meditative exploration even in their presence, until the answers present themselves effortlessly. In both cases - “what we really are” and “can we be fully liberated” - it’s mostly an issue of consistent, diligent practice.
Keep going, and everything will eventually fall into place.
