A Story of Arrival, Living, and Return

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Life has been called a journey. That’s why people say we come and go. We come into this world empty-handed, and we leave it the same way. But is that really true? When this journey ends, is there truly nothing left? Is that what it means to be free? And what exactly is that freedom?

So we end up living, hoping that nothing strange or bad happens, gradually wishing that nothing at all happens. Yes, in the material world—the world we can see with our eyes—we are indeed born with nothing. But if we talk about what’s unseen, then from the moment we’re born, we actually possess a great deal.

We’re born with the genes passed down from our parents, but also feelings about an unknown soul—something we can’t name, just sense. As we live, we create and receive the results of cause and effect in countless ways.

Time passes. And then we return to that unknown place. We disappear. But when we vanish, it won’t be as if we were never here. The traces of memory, the things that made our hearts ache or sing—those will be taken along with our soul. So don’t fall into despair or think it’s meaningless. Everything follows the law of cause and effect.

This life is not simply about this life, or past lives, or next lives. It’s a life woven into the vast fabric of time and space—intertwined like the countless stars in the universe. So don’t judge your life as good or bad based on a single moment or chapter. Instead, with your breath, try to feel and understand the greater meaning—perhaps even the will of the heavens. Where am I now? 

The Heart of the Bean

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Image from Pixabay

Sometimes, I take out Hwanyeok (a Korean book by Alexander Choi) and open it to random pages, reading them as my heart desires. When I read the book, I am often grateful for how the words on the pages deeply etch themselves in my mind, depending on what I am learning at that time. I end up reading it over and over again. Anyway, there’s a proverb that says, “Where you plant beans, beans will grow.” However, sometimes, worthless beans grow as well. Let me elaborate on what a “bad bean” exactly is.

In Hwanyeok, there are various theories about whether the “bad bean” was inherently flawed or if other variables were at play. Through several experiments, it suggests that one of the factors contributing to a worthless bean could be the state of the mind. With the same sun, water, wind, and soil, while some beans pour all their energy into growing and flourishing, others may not grow enough because their hearts are somewhere else, eventually becoming worthless. Indeed, this makes me nod in agreement!

I always thought I was a good bean, but I never seriously considered the possibility that I could become a worthless one as well. Even if you plant identical seedlings in the same tray, they won’t grow to be identical twins. Just because someone is human doesn’t mean they are the same as everyone else. I want to be someone with fragrance, someone who leaves a trace. I want to grow like a bean.

Fragrance, traces, beans… What is it I’m talking about? Let’s be curious about it! Goonggoong!

Unapologetic Fragility

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We love trees in the spring
Green leaves appearing, flower buds peeking
Birds building nests and singing in the branches.
We enjoy trees in the summer
Luscious crowns providing much needed shade
Rich green colored leaves softly rustling in the summer breeze.
We admire trees in the fall for their beautiful colors, sun bouncing off them.
But the winter is when trees are most vulnerable
With no leaves, no birds, no colors, they are exposed
They cannot hide their uneven trunk, a branch bent or broken by the wind,
weathered bark, holes made by woodpeckers
They show themselves unapologetically, for everyone to see and judge, as they have no choice.
Let us not be harsh in our judgement
It is in the winter that they allow sun to shine through them bringing warmth and light
We can find beauty in their fragility

Thinking of Limits

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In mathematics we have a notion of Limit going from zero to infinity. Lim f(x), x->∞. We really do not know that it is truly infinity but we accept that we do not know where the limit is. And, we are comfortable with this notion, we build theorems and theories based on it. Greatest inventions have been made because the inventors did not set up limits to their imaginations. So, why don’t we apply this notion of “no limit” to ourselves, to our own growth? What if we lose all prenotions of what is expected and what is “normal”, and what is good enough, and keep going wanting more. We will not know if we reach our limits, but it is exciting to believe that there is always more, we can really have fun with this!

Love comes later, breath comes first!

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When we integrate meditation into the idea of “breath comes first, love comes later,” it deepens the understanding of how breath and love are intertwined through #HarmonyMeditation practices. Let’s explore that:

👉 #HarmonyMeditation as the Practice of Breath
Meditation, especially in its simplest forms, is primarily focused on the breath. In many meditation traditions—such as mindfulness, Zen, or Benevolence—the breath is the anchor that pulls you into the present moment. The act of focusing on your breath can be profoundly grounding, allowing you to let go of distractions and return to a state of pure awareness. It’s a direct way to be in touch with the present moment, which is often the first step in any spiritual or emotional awakening.

In meditation, you observe the flow of your breath—its rise and fall, the subtle pauses in between—without trying to control it or judge it. The more deeply you breathe, the more you enter a state of calm and clarity. By doing this regularly, you train your mind to be still and centered, creating the space for other experiences, like love, to emerge naturally.

👉 Breath as the Bridge to Love
#HarmonyMeditation quiets the inner chatter and brings attention to the body, specifically the breath, which is the life force/energy. As you breathe mindfully, your awareness shifts from the surface level of thoughts and worries to the deeper, subtler rhythms of life itself. In that space of stillness and presence, there’s room for love to blossom—not just as an emotion, but as an expansive, boundless #power.

When you meditate, you’re not “forcing” yourself to love; instead, you create a fertile environment for love to grow. Meditation softens the boundaries between yourself and the world around you.

👉 The #Harmony Between Mindfulness, Breath, and Love
Meditation creates a mindful awareness where the breath is the entry point into experiencing a more profound connection to yourself, others, and the world. Through this awareness, love begins to emerge—not in the sense of an overwhelming emotion or attachment, but as a natural outcome of being fully present and attuned to the interconnectedness of all things.

In a way, breath in meditation becomes the gateway to understanding and embodying love. As you breathe mindfully, you can experience a deeper sense of unity with your surroundings. You begin to see that love is not just something you “feel” but something you are—a state of being that radiates out when you’re grounded in the present.

👉 #HarmonyMeditation as the Practice of Patience
Meditation doesn’t rush; it unfolds naturally. You don’t force stillness, and you don’t force love. You simply practice being—being with your breath, being with your thoughts, being with your emotions. Through this practice, love arrives when it’s ready, when your heart has opened in its own time.

In a sense, meditation teaches you that both breath and love are states that don’t need to be chased—they simply need to be allowed. The breath is always available to you, anchoring you in the now. And love, like the breath, can become a constant, ever-present force in your life when you make space for it to emerge.

👉 #HarmonyMeditation as an Ongoing Process
Meditation isn’t just a practice you do for 10 minutes a day—it’s a way of living. As you bring this awareness into your daily life, you may notice that love becomes more spontaneous and natural. It may manifest as greater empathy, kindness, and a sense of deep connection with others, all stemming from your capacity to be fully present in each breath.

So, to tie it all together: “Breath comes first” in meditation because it’s the doorway to presence, mindfulness, and stillness. Love comes later, but only because it naturally arises as the result of being deeply present with your breath—and with life itself. #HarmonyMeditation is the practice that helps you stay in touch with that presence, where love can grow effortlessly, like a seed planted in fertile soil.

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