Meditation is the slow unveiling of the mind’s own clarity. It’s not about adding something new, but about patiently clearing away the mental noise that’s been clouding your innate wisdom all along. Think of it as a gentle cleaning process for your consciousness.
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Meaning
The core idea is that your mind isn’t broken; it’s just cluttered. Meditation is the process of removing that clutter to reveal the natural, clear state that was there all along.
Explanation
Look, here’s the thing most people get wrong. They approach meditation like it’s a task, a chore where they’re trying to *force* their mind to be quiet. And when they can’t, they feel like they’ve failed. But Goleman’s quote flips that entire script. It’s not about *doing*; it’s about *un-doing*. It’s a slow, patient unveiling. You’re not the painter adding brushstrokes; you’re the conservator, carefully wiping away centuries of grime from a masterpiece. That masterpiece is your mind’s inherent clarity and peace. It’s already there. The frustration, the anxiety, the brain fog? That’s just the dust on the lens. The practice is the gentle, consistent wiping.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Spiritual (229) |
| Topics | clarity (95), growth (413), mind (39) |
| Literary Style | poetic (635) |
| Emotion / Mood | peaceful (147) |
| Overall Quote Score | 76 (131) |
Origin & Factcheck
This gem comes straight from Daniel Goleman’s 1988 book, “The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience,” published in the US. It’s a foundational text from before he blew up with “Emotional Intelligence.” You sometimes see this sentiment floating around attributed to random spiritual figures, but the phrasing is definitively Goleman’s.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Daniel Goleman (125) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience (60) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Modern (530) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and bestselling author whose journalism at The New York Times brought brain and behavior science to a wide audience. He earned a BA from Amherst and a PhD in psychology from Harvard, and studied in India on a Harvard fellowship. Goleman’s research and writing helped mainstream emotional intelligence, leadership competencies, attention, and contemplative science. He co-founded CASEL and a leading research consortium on EI at work. The Daniel Goleman book list includes Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, Primal Leadership, Social Intelligence, Focus, and Altered Traits.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Meditation is the slow unveiling of the mind’s own clarity |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 1977 (originally as The Varieties of Meditative Experience, revised 1988 as The Meditative Mind); ISBN: 9780874778335; Last Edition: Tarcher/Putnam 1988; Number of pages: 320. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page from 1988 edition, Chapter 6: The Mind in Balance |