Letting Go
I'm usually just a reader of the messages in this group, and I've posted once before. I can say that I've progressed a whole lot since then, in both my studies and general understanding of the fundamental concepts of Buddhism. I've even come to develop a few of my own. I keep getting hung up on one thing though.
In the Dhammapada itself, Buddha tells us "Therefore, I will not be attached to these ties and I will cast them away as I would a snake in my lap." I cannot help but wonder at these words. What do they mean? In my pondering I have found come to think that we are all connected, somehow, from one point or another in one of our past lives. We're all in this journey together, and some of the connections are stronger than others- there is no way that I cannot feel this.
Could he be saying to rid ourselves of relationships and love altogether? There has to be more meaning than that. It's constantly implied to avoid sexual and emotional relationships. I find this somewhat confusing.
Does he mean for us to rid ourselves of the fear of loss and betrayal? I can only come to this conclusion. In love, when you fear of losing someone, you begin to be protective. In being this you may discover or even imagine betrayal. Jealousy roots itself, anger begins, tears are shed. This is suffering, life is suffering, and love is part of life. But "To be without sores is more pleasurable still."
The only way I can interpret this is this: Destroy any fear you have. It is the evil soil in which suffering multiplies in. Whether these things are going to happen is not influenced by your worry. It is the nature of life to lose, but rather than thinking of the future, think of the moment you have, there, the present. Think of the joy it helps you find within yourself, the discovery, the understanding you gain. Love, sex within that love, attachment- these all will be gone someday. And when they are gone, do not mourn. Remember the good and the lessons you have taught yourself in doing them. As long as these things are done with the Eightfold Path in mind, there is only gain.
I've met someone recently, and it's almost as if we mirror each other, even to the eye. Our pasts are nearly the same, broken family, aspirations, even our college major. Since then I've devoted a lot of my sitting to thinking about what love really is and how it connects to my studies. I can honestly say that I believe that my responsibility as a person is to make the world better for other people. This is one of the first things she said to me, without prompt or knowledge of my study of Buddhism. She is not a Buddhist herself, but this struck me, and drew us together.
I believe that it is inevitable that some relationships that we have will be stronger than others, and some may even last until death, though that is rarely the case. When they do, it is a very joyous thing to have. The only suffering they cause is the fear and sadness we allow ourselves to feel. Trust me, trust you, trust everyone. That's all I have been able to see from this. Any thoughts from anyone?
In the Dhammapada itself, Buddha tells us "Therefore, I will not be attached to these ties and I will cast them away as I would a snake in my lap." I cannot help but wonder at these words. What do they mean? In my pondering I have found come to think that we are all connected, somehow, from one point or another in one of our past lives. We're all in this journey together, and some of the connections are stronger than others- there is no way that I cannot feel this.
Could he be saying to rid ourselves of relationships and love altogether? There has to be more meaning than that. It's constantly implied to avoid sexual and emotional relationships. I find this somewhat confusing.
Does he mean for us to rid ourselves of the fear of loss and betrayal? I can only come to this conclusion. In love, when you fear of losing someone, you begin to be protective. In being this you may discover or even imagine betrayal. Jealousy roots itself, anger begins, tears are shed. This is suffering, life is suffering, and love is part of life. But "To be without sores is more pleasurable still."
The only way I can interpret this is this: Destroy any fear you have. It is the evil soil in which suffering multiplies in. Whether these things are going to happen is not influenced by your worry. It is the nature of life to lose, but rather than thinking of the future, think of the moment you have, there, the present. Think of the joy it helps you find within yourself, the discovery, the understanding you gain. Love, sex within that love, attachment- these all will be gone someday. And when they are gone, do not mourn. Remember the good and the lessons you have taught yourself in doing them. As long as these things are done with the Eightfold Path in mind, there is only gain.
I've met someone recently, and it's almost as if we mirror each other, even to the eye. Our pasts are nearly the same, broken family, aspirations, even our college major. Since then I've devoted a lot of my sitting to thinking about what love really is and how it connects to my studies. I can honestly say that I believe that my responsibility as a person is to make the world better for other people. This is one of the first things she said to me, without prompt or knowledge of my study of Buddhism. She is not a Buddhist herself, but this struck me, and drew us together.
I believe that it is inevitable that some relationships that we have will be stronger than others, and some may even last until death, though that is rarely the case. When they do, it is a very joyous thing to have. The only suffering they cause is the fear and sadness we allow ourselves to feel. Trust me, trust you, trust everyone. That's all I have been able to see from this. Any thoughts from anyone?
