#518 "Learning to let go" Sun. 24 24

  Letting go 

The monkey coconut trap is well known. The principle is simple.

Put a banana in an empty coconut shell with a small hole. 

The monkey grabs the banana to eat it later, but cannot get his hand out because he wants to hold the banana at all costs. He is trapped.

Humans are also trapped in many different coconut traps because of our powerful boundings and attachments to zillions of stuff.

What are the sources of our attachments?

It can be desires, aversions, delusions, illusions, opinions, beliefs, ongoing situations, events, jobs, money, etc… 

Our attachments to x, y, and z, have no limit in quantity and degree. Even some become real addictions.
We believe these things are necessary for our security, success, happiness, and our well-being. 

What is the flip side of the coin?

Attachments are hidden obstacles to our ultimate serenity. 

Why?

We are - subconsciously- afraid that if we lose or let go of what we are bound to, we will become unhappy, restless, anxious, dissatisfied, empty, even miserable without this object or person we are bound to.  Objects of attachment are our egotistic coconut traps.

Is there a solution?

Zen is telling us that we can learn to practice letting go which is different from giving up, being a coward, or being without empathy, compassion, and love.

Instead, this is wisdom. 

How does it work?
Once you realize, be mindful, and accept  that: 

1) everything is transient, and  2) everything is out of our control.

Absence of control and impermanence are ones of the roots of achieving contentment, inner peace, equanimity, and eventually Awakening because:

   -Our attachments, even to the strongest ones, become more rational. 

   -We also become more pragmatic, more rational is less emotional w/o trying, of course, to eliminate attachments because it is impossible.

Is it being pessimistic?

No, it means being more realistic because permanence & control are illusions.

This attitude will reduce our subconscious anxiety and worries about losing our sources of attachment

It takes will and training to equate letting go with equanimity but it is worthwhile to try even if it takes

a lot of courage because our ego will fight strongly against it.

Thanks.

Homework:

Think about someone that you dislike, and learn to delete this negative feeling.

It will be one less weight in your mind.