GA, @thorninmud!
I’m not sure where I heard this metaphor before, but I find it helpful…
Imagine that you’re sitting on the side of a river in the sun. You feel the warmth of the sun, hear the birds, and are very settled where you are. You may notice boats as they pass by on the river. You may notice things about the boats – how they travel, whether they are traveling aggressively, which direction they are going, etc.
Suddenly, however, you find that you are on the boat. You don’t know how long you have been on the boat, and you don’t recall ever intentionally climbing aboard. So you jump ashore and revisit where you were. But you find that you perpetually find yourself up or downriver on one of those boats, rather than simply watching it and observing it as it passes.
In my experience, meditation allows me to notice more quickly when I have boarded one of the boats. It may even allow me a quick glimpse at myself as I climb up into the boat. And as @thorninmud notes, there is nothing wrong with these boats – but it’s nice to know when I’m on one. I spent years riding the boats up and down the river while under the impression that I was still sitting on the shore.