The Peter Parker moment

Anyone who knows me knows that I love superheroes. Sure, they’re tacky, cheesy, and predictable. However, those are just reasons, and since when do people like things because they are logical?

Superhero stories speak to us because there are so many conductors woven into them. There is something there for you, whether you like adventure, power, the nobility of fighting for what is right, the supreme celebrity status they enjoy …

Or maybe you like to see people accept something greater than themselves. Your life changes in a moment. Everything they thought was possible is now completely outside the window.

They have to live their normal lives while carrying all this potential within them.

If you meditate long enough, you know what I mean. There is a sudden jump in your consciousness. The things that used to stop you now seem ridiculously trivial. The things you used to take for granted are now deeply appreciated.

And nobody around you notices.

(First …)

What kind of superhero does this make you?

Superman was born exceptional. He grew up with divine abilities running through his bloodstream. His rise as a hero was deciding how to use those powers, for better or for worse?

Then there’s Batman, who dedicated his life to one purpose. He focused all his resources on his mission to rid Gotham of crime.

A hero like Iron Man is a different version. He had the ability to build his suit all the time, but he never realized it. It wasn’t until he was cornered and fighting for his life that he had the breakthrough.

And then there is Spider-man.

Peter Parker didn’t want superpowers. I did not expect them. At no point did he plot, plan or experiment to win them.

He did not choose where or when to obtain his powers. He did not choose what his powers would be.

At one point, he was “just” Peter …

The next …

Some people see meditation as something more like Bruce Wayne. After all, you put in the work for a long time to get results. Or maybe more like Tony Stark, who spent his life preparing for the one epiphany he needed to transform.

I do not disagree with those views. They are certainly true for many people.

My experience is more like a Peter Parker moment.

After disciplined meditation, something suddenly woke up. I did not choose where or when. I did not choose the shape of my new thoughts.

But they were exactly what he needed.

Now, not all of these new perspectives have served me well. Unlike superheroes, we have the luxury of ignoring powers that we don’t like.

This frees us to pay attention to what we do.

I admit that it is not a perfect metaphor. For example, only a radioactive spider bit Peter, while you will have many of these defining moments.

And the more you have, the more you can shape them. You can choose your results and design your mind, like Tony Stark.

This makes meditation better than getting super powers. With this analogy, it’s like getting all the superpowers you want … as long as you put in the time.