Emotions Emptiness

Colome

In my studies on Buddhism I came upon contentment. This word kept arising with the word emptiness into my thoughts. I have started to control my emotions, as other literature has guided me. However, if i am to be content would i be content with any emotions that manifests itself, ie Anger, sadness, love, passion, joy, or should i be void of emotion, as to be empty. Please help me find the answer so i (and anyone else looking at this with similar thoughts) can come closer to enlightenment.

Silouan

The practice of contentment naturally reduces the impact or hold that we give those emotions and passions over us. We still experience them, but we don't become them.

Zero

You ask: "If I am to be content, would I be content with...."

You should be content, to be content.

Contentment, I have found, is disturbed by attachment.

Emotional response is a response to stimulus.

Your response (whether emotional or otherwise) may be from a content state or from an attached state - it will have an effect on you and your environment whichever way you go.

I am not sure how to guide you to a state of no or void emotions - I have not experienced such a state - it seems incompatible with the human condition.

I can't say whether this is closer or further away from enlightenment.

I_AM_THAT

We interact with this world and our surroundings through our senses. These senses; seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and thought all trigger emotions. Emotions will arise, but it is how we respond to these emotions and their impact on our being. We need to be able to find a balance between the highs and lows, a balance that allows the emotions to flow but not overtake us. This is the practice of being mindful, the ability to see how the emotions arise within ourselves and how or inner being responds. Don't try to be void of emotion, but instead control the way you respond to your emotion. There is a balance in all things...

taiyaki

Let me tell you something that you probably won't understand until you experience.

Every emotion is your enlightenment. Every emotion is asking us to look at it nakedly without preconception, without concepts, without stories, without any connect the dots.

Every emotion prior to language is enlightenment.

If voidness of emotion is recognized then the emotion is felt totally, completely, nakedly, you become so vulnerable and the emotion teaches you.

On this path many are attached to form is emptiness.

We must see how emptiness is form.

All of these manifestation and truly inspiration is the display of the unborn buddha mind.

person

My take is that abiding in a view of emptiness don't mean no emotions exactly but more that there's really nothing to get emotional about. The state of calm, free from suffering is said to be more pleasant than any kind of pleasure that can be experienced, and for myself I've had a few brief tastes in retreat, nothing lasting but enough to say it exists and is nice. Also emptiness isn't free of positive emotions like love or compassion as these emotions are based upon the reality of beings interconnection while the negative emotions are based upon the falsehood of our self cherishing seperateness.

driedleaf

Emotions are like color. When we use only our emotions, we become like a solid color. Using only one color makes a painting look dull and emotionless. Contentment is like having all the colors of paint we desire. It makes our paintings look more real and alive.

lobster

The more I practice, the more settled the emotional extremes. As adults we are not consumed by emotions as are children and teens. That maturity continues into Buddhist evolvement. Practice.

pegembara

All the emotions are there but there is no holding on to them. You do not become an emotionless robot.

Then Ananda, bear this too as something wonderful and marvelous about the Tathagata. Here, Ananda for the Tathagata feelings are known as they arise, as they are present, as they disappear. Perceptions are known as they arise, as they are present, as they disappear. Thoughts are known as they arise, as they are present, as they disappear. Ananda, bear this too as something wonderful and marvelous about the Blessed One.

http://www.buddhagautama.com/apps/blog/show/6085649-acchariya-abbhuta-sutta-mn-123-the-marvelous-birth-of-the-buddha