Satori Anyone?
- Melissa Mater
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
You know that moment when you find yourself staring at your reflection in your computer monitor, in a post-lunch daze thinking, "Is this really it?" When the hustle of daily life has you questioning whether you’re on the right path, or if you’ve somehow wandered into a movie where everything feels like it’s either Groundhog Day or The Truman Show? Because, same girl. And so enter my path to satori – that elusive, Zen Buddhist concept of sudden awakening and clarity.
Now, let me give you a little disclaimer: I’m not sitting in a monastery, chanting mantras, or eating tofu (no judgment, but I need my carbs). I'm just an independent, single woman, with a strong sense of self (if I do say so myself), a strong cup of coffee, and a the odd strong margarita, trying to figure out how to feel more “present” in my own life. So when I stumbled across satori, I thought, "there's something to this".
What Is Satori? I Was Hoping You Would Ask!
Ok, picture this: You’re living your life, minding your business, dealing with laundry and taxes, being overworked and underpaid. Then, suddenly, ka-pow – it hits you. No, it’s not your boss on a Monday morning; it’s satori. It’s a moment of deep insight. An aha! moment so profound that it makes you question everything you thought you knew about the world (and yourself).
So that was a bit dramatic. Satori isn’t some intellectual thing you can learn by reading a book or watching a documentary. No. It’s a sudden experience of clarity and understanding. It’s like waking up from a fog you didn’t even realize you were in. One minute, you’re just existing – maybe you’re stuck in traffic, maybe you’re binging Netflix, maybe you’re eating an entire pizza to yourself while drinking your favourite vintage red (don’t judge). And then, just like that, something – or everything - clicks.
You realize that all the worrying, the stress, the “stuff” you’ve been collecting, it’s all a distraction. Life is about this moment. Here. Now. I know, it sounds like something out of a self-help book, but trust me – when it hits, it hits.
What Does It Feel Like to Experience Satori?
Now, I’m no Zen master or Buddhist. But when I think of satori, it’s as if the world pauses for a second. Not the slow-motion type you see in movies, but a sudden, sharp awareness. Like the way you might catch a field of fireflies in the darkness as you’re driving, stressed because you’re running late, and for one brief second, time stands still. There I was, living life, stressed about the next thing at work, the last thing at work, my schedule, my finances, my health; everything was becoming so loud – and then, without even realizing it, it kind of just happened I got it.
There was no past, no future, just now.
There was no “I’m enlightened!” moment, no dramatic, all-knowing shift. Instead, it was like the light dimmed on, and the room was a little brighter. It wasn’t blissful like some make it seem to be, but it was peaceful. Calm. Real. It’s what I had been searching for (whether I knew it or not).
It felt like taking a breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding for a lifetime. You know how sometimes you just get stuck? In a conversation, in your head, in life? Well, satori is like that moment when the knots untangle and you just are. It’s as if you’re standing right there, with no distractions, no ego. Just... you.
And that felt like enough.
So, What’s the Objective Here?
Ah, the goal. That’s tricky. You’d think after a moment of clarity, the next step would be clear, right? But here’s the thing: Satori isn’t about reaching a destination. It’s not like the end of the road is a shiny, spiritual trophy you can display. Instead, it’s about living – really living – in the moment, with a deeper understanding of what that means. It’s not about perfection; it’s about presence.
If anything, satori showed me that I don’t need to be perfect, have all the answers, or even have a plan for the future.
Satori invites you to just be.
To step away from the never-ending cycle of self-doubt, overthinking, and comparing yourself to others. It’s like getting a backstage pass to your own life. Suddenly, the things that used to matter so much, like that meeting you were stressed about last week, feel pretty insignificant. And that, my friends, is the beauty of satori.
Is It a Permanent State?
Well, no. Satori isn’t like getting a stamp on your spiritual passport. It’s not a one-time deal that sets you free from all of life’s complexities forever. But you know what it does? It serves as a reminder. A reminder that the next time you feel lost, overwhelmed, or like you’re spiraling into a hole of existential crisis (because we’ve all been there, right?!), you can always come back to that moment of clarity. Satori isn’t a final destination. It’s a little nudge from the universe, telling you: Hey, you’re okay. You’re exactly where you need to be. Just breathe and enjoy the ride.
The Takeaway
So here I am, having just shared my little satori moment with you. Am I enlightened? Probably not. Am I closer to peace? Maybe. Do I still eat pizza and have occasional emotional meltdowns? Absolutely. But satori, in all its fleeting glory, has shown me that I don’t have to have it all figured out. I just need to be present, be kind to myself, and trust that everything will unfold in its own time.
If you’re on your own journey (whether it’s to enlightenment or just a weekend getaway), remember that the little moments of clarity – those quiet realizations when you can breathe and just be – are often the most profound. No need for perfect conditions or exotic retreats. Just you, wherever you are, in the moment.
And that’s pretty darn close to satori if you ask me.
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