Letting GO

mockeymind

Just a little confused on the issue of letting go. Is it something that we "discard totally?" or it is a method of moving back from it - not attached, not get personalized. Looks like it is just a 50/50 thing.

federica

Letting go means embracing something fully while you have it, but releasing it willingly, when it's time for it to end. That goes for anything.

how

@mockeymind

Habitually pulling at or pushing away phenomena is an attachment.
To let go of it means to stop trying to manipulate it either way.

DairyLama

I don't think letting go is an act of will, it's more like the consequence of developing a more spacious mind.

mockeymind

so it is a state of mind where we choose to see things differently. maybe seeing in a larger perspective so non attachment could be achieved?

DairyLama

Yes, a state of mind resulting from practice.

misecmisc1

letting go refers to letting go of attachment and aversion towards phenomena and seeing things 'just as they are'.

lobster

Me haz plan!

DairyLama

Let go of letting go....

David

I said that once here and got quite a backlash.

Rodrigo

For instance, if this glass were to break, normally you would experience suffering. We know that this glass will be a cause for suffering, so we get rid of the cause. All dhammas arise because of a cause. They must also cease because of a cause. Now if there is suffering on account of this glass here, we should let go of this cause. If we reflect beforehand that this glass is already broken, even when it isn't, the cause ceases. When there is no longer any cause, that suffering is no longer able to exist, it ceases. This is cessation.

Ajahn Chah

DairyLama

I think "letting go" is really a modern take on equanimity ( upekkha )

http://buddhism.about.com/od/basicbuddhistteachings/a/Buddhism-And-Equanimity.htm

Buddhadragon

"Let go or be dragged"
(Zen Proverb)

Earthninja

Alan Watts says you don't have to let go, because there's really nothing to hold onto to.
Everything is in constant decay, all a process of falling apart. So when we realise this and stop clinging. We get an access of power, and power obtained from letting go, is power through which we can be trusted.

mockeymind

@DhammaDragon Let go or be dragged"
(Zen Proverb)

Well said ---

DairyLama

@Earthninja said:> Alan Watts says you don't have to let go, because there's really nothing to hold onto to.> Everything is in constant decay, all a process of falling apart. So when we realise this and stop clinging. We get an access of power, and power obtained from letting go, is power through which we can be trusted.

Sure. But the realisation is much easier said than done.

federica

@ourself said:
I said that once here and got quite a backlash.

Ah, how times change....! Nothing ever stays the same, does it?

Jeffrey

it means gain and loss are a worldly wind. Can't make the wind go or make hot and cold go.

Earthninja

@SpinyNorman I think it's a slow process that happens spontaneously like you said. This one is more through inquiry rather than spaciousness.
When you sit there and feel your heart beat and ponder impermanence. You get less attached to yourself m.

Jeffrey

I think it improves to notice thoughts as thoughts.

Jeffrey

Spaciousness is a quality of mind that is already there. We don't have to notice it for it to be there. In pondering even there is automatically spaciousness, clarity (awareness), and sensitivity.

Shoshin

@mockeymind Letting go tis the paradox of Buddhist thinking...

The knack is to see thought as thought and nothing more ( just movement confined to the brain) so when those nasty attachment thoughts of me my mine arise, with Awareness's help the mind can be coated with Teflon so nothing sticks, hence no need to let go.... "It came ...It saw...It was conquered !"

Meditation is the key to understanding what is meant by letting go and no amount of words of advice are going to do the letting go for you ...

'Experienced' is where it's all at....

Moment to moment everything is a constant state of flux...If one clings,(or tries to cling) one will eventually suffer...

"Sabba dhamma nalam abhinivesaya" "Nothing whatsoever should be clung to!"

Even the idea of letting go...

When one let's go of letting go then in its place just being will arise...( Well that's the Dharma text book version of events)

DairyLama

@Earthninja said:> SpinyNorman I think it's a slow process that happens spontaneously like you said. This one is more through inquiry rather than spaciousness.
When you sit there and feel your heart beat and ponder impermanence. You get less attached to yourself.

Yes, I think this is the difference between prioritising samatha and prioritising vipassana.
Though with the usual caveat that these are really two sides of the same coin, calm and clarity.