With so many different meditation methods, how can one know which path leads to enlightenment and No-self (Anattā)?

Like wanderers lost in a vast, untamed forest, surrounded by dense, overgrown trees with no clear path to escape, we too remain trapped in the maze of fleeting pleasures and illusions of life — unless we encounter a true master or an Enlightened One to guide us. Without such guidance, the light of truth remains hidden, and no matter how far we roam, we remain bound to the cycle of birth and death.

When our strength is exhausted, we find ourselves lost in the wilderness, endlessly wandering from one lifetime to another, unable to break free.

Yet, we are fortunate to have encountered the Buddha's teachings, illuminating the path through the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and the Law of Karma. Through these profound truths, we realize that beyond this wilderness, there exists a grand palace — a destination of ultimate liberation, with its highest peak being Nirvana, the absolute state of No-self and freedom from saṃsāra. Meditation is the path that leads to this ultimate No-self and enlightenment.

However, merely knowing that the palace of meditation exists does not mean we have found the way to reach it. We have only heard about the path but have not yet truly understood how to walk it or how to find the gateway to enter. If we rely only on vague instructions, we may keep wandering endlessly without ever reaching the destination.

In reality, many speak of meditation, yet their guidance is often like providing the wrong map — the palace is in the West, but they direct us East, or slightly off course toward the Southwest or Northwest. Even a small deviation can set us adrift for countless lifetimes. And amid the countless meditation methods, teachers, and spiritual instructors today, who can truly guarantee that all of them know the right path?

This explains why, although millions around the world practice meditation, very few truly achieve genuine spiritual progress. Thus, to find the correct path to liberation, to encounter a true master, and to correctly comprehend the Buddha's teachings is a rare and extraordinary blessing — one that not everyone is fortunate enough to attain.