The results from insight meditation are progressive rather than instant. Realizing that fact is one of the most important elements of success — the ability to keep working and to allow small improvements to compound and grow over time.
We are not promising enlightenment after the first retreat. Instead, we are quite confident that a person who applies mindfulness continually over a period of time will start to see clear results. These results will necessarily encompass a more positive outlook on life and a greater satisfaction with one’s current reality.
The important thing to remember is that when we start to practice mediation, we need to temper our exceptions so that we are not expecting perfection, we are just hoping to get better. This subtle understanding will give us the confidence to see our successes for what they are, not the end of a road but a stepping stone to continued improvement over time.