Looking back, in the early stages, what could be called a "spotted pattern" of stillness, a state of stillness, but one that would return to its original state relatively quickly after meditation. Gradually, it became more stable, reaching the second stage of stillness. At that point, the basic, everyday life became a "spotted pattern of stillness," and the stillness after meditation felt like the spots had become smaller, even though they were still present.

Recently, it seems to have reached the third or fourth stage, where the spots are almost invisible (or unnoticeable), or even if there seems to be a slight, fine pattern at first, meditation leads to a state of stillness with almost no spots.

This "mottled" appearance is based on subjective sensations, and it's just a feeling, but it serves as one of the criteria for my own internal sense of self. It cannot be compared to others.

Meditation is not just about sitting meditation; it's necessary for meditation to extend into daily life. Therefore, even if one experiences a state of stillness, it's better to spread it into daily life. This happens gradually as meditation deepens, and as one becomes more proficient in meditation, one can spend daily life in a state of relative stillness.

While living daily life, one gradually moves away from stillness. For example, a slight "haze" may form around the body. However, during meditation, after, say, 10 minutes, this "haze" suddenly disappears, and stillness deepens. If one continues meditating, the aura (prana, kundalini) rises to the Sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head, and consciousness becomes clearer. Furthermore, if one continues meditating, the area around the neck and below becomes even clearer, resulting in a slight release of tension in the chest and arms, leading to deeper relaxation. Continuing meditation further loosens the area in the back of the head.

As you can see, there are various states of stillness, and while the order is not strictly defined, meditation gradually loosens and relaxes the body.

■The joy of being in the zone is the foundation, which eventually leads to stillness.

In reality, there is a stage of concentration and the joy of being in the zone before the relaxation that comes with a state of stillness. However, first, one must thoroughly cleanse emotions and achieve a stable state of being in the zone, and only then can one enter a state of stillness. Therefore, there is no need to aim for a state of stillness directly. If emotions are deeply stirred, it is more important to focus on work, hobbies, or sports to enter the joy of being in the zone.

Depending on the school of thought, some emphasize immediate observation or seeking silence, while others focus on teaching. (If one follows a particular school of thought, I believe individuals should be free to choose what suits them best.) However, I believe that starting with immediate observation or seeking silence can be a difficult path. Therefore, I think it's more effective to first aim for the joy of being in the zone through concentration, and then, once that joy becomes stable, to pursue silence. Furthermore, there is no competition in terms of order; if one believes that concentration meditation is better, they should simply do that. It's not good to be swayed by others who say that observation is superior; one should only do what suits them. In that sense, I believe this order is good, but it's important to verify it yourself.

Some people may have a strong foundation from the beginning and can immediately achieve silence. In such schools of thought, concentration may not be taught, and immediate observation or silence may be practiced. However, it's not possible to skip steps like that.

There is an order to things, and when emotional aspects are still dominant, it's crucial to focus on something, such as work, to experience emotional joy, and to purify one's emotional aspects through that experience.

Even if the joy of being in the zone initially comes only occasionally, perhaps once every few years, or once or twice a year, or once a month, continuing that joy will eventually allow one to enter the zone every week, or almost every day. As a result, one's daily state becomes closer to the zone. That state is often described as joy, but eventually, the joy subsides, and gradually, "happiness" increases. It changes from emotional joy to a deeper "happiness."

Eventually, when "happiness" becomes commonplace, continuing meditation will lead to a quieting of that happiness, and one will reach "silence." While this may not be complete enlightenment, it is a state of great happiness, and one can live a sufficiently happy life.