The flakiness of breakthroughs is one of the reasons that in Zen we’re so insistent on consistent practice as part of a sangha with a teacher. It’s one thing to have some kind of experience while meditating, like on a retreat. It’s another to integrate that experience into daily life, and that’s done over months, not minutes, and a skilled teacher can get you back on track when you waver, so long as you don’t waver in your commitment to keep showing up and doing the work.
The flakiness of breakthroughs is one of the reasons that in Zen we’re so insistent on consistent practice as part of a sangha with a teacher. It’s one thing to have some kind of experience while meditating, like on a retreat. It’s another to integrate that experience into daily life, and that’s done over months, not minutes, and a skilled teacher can get you back on track when you waver, so long as you don’t waver in your commitment to keep showing up and doing the work.