Dr. Esra ÖZSÜER

Founder & President, Maya Vakfi Foundation | Associate Professor | Political Scientist | Mental Health Advocate

“My first experience with meditation was when I was very young. I was very ill, recovering from surgery in the U.S. Besides medical doctors, I also had spiritual advisors. They said, ‘Esra, we have to introduce you to meditation. It will calm your wound and your spirit.’

Meditation doesn’t just bring me calmness; it also connects me to my heart and alignment. It helped me not to become a victim of illness but to emerge as a hero from it. Through meditation, I found my own healing and strength.

Until today, I had been practicing as if I had a wound—I applied treatment, covered it with a bandage—but deep inside, the real wound was still there. I couldn’t go deeper. Vipassana meditation changed that. It takes you to the core of the wound, revealing its true source. For me, it was a profound awakening.”