This quote suggests that meditation is a potent form of study in itself, as it allows individuals to fully explore and utilize their own minds. The use of the words “taste” and “employ” implies an active engagement with oneself, suggesting that meditation is not just a passive activity but one that involves deep self-interrogation.
The idea behind this quote is that through meditation, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves – our thoughts, feelings, motivations. By doing so, we can better control our actions and reactions to different situations. It’s about harnessing the power within us to shape our lives in the way we want them to be.
In today’s fast-paced world where external stimuli constantly bombard us, taking time out for introspection has become even more critical. Through regular practice of meditation or mindfulness activities like yoga or breathing exercises, we can learn to quieten our minds amidst all the noise around us.
In terms of personal development too this concept holds great value. For example: if you are struggling with stress at work or dealing with negative emotions like anger or fear; instead of seeking solutions outside (like changing jobs), try meditating on these issues first. Try understanding why you feel what you feel; what triggers these feelings; how do you react when these feelings arise and so on.
Once you have answers to these questions (which may take some time), then think about how you would ideally want yourself to react in such situations? What changes do you need to make within yourself for this? And then work consciously towards making those changes happen – again using techniques like visualization during your meditative sessions could help here.
So essentially what Michel de Montaigne is saying through his quote is: look inward before looking outward; understand before reacting; change from within before seeking change from outside – because only when we truly know ourselves can we effectively navigate through life’s ups and downs.