At this wondrous beginning of 2012, I wanted to share some thoughts on freedom as it relates to Buddhism. When we were all children, most of us wanted the freedom to stay up late or watch TV and we thought that was what happiness was all about. Then, as we became teenagers, we wanted the freedom to stay out late and be with our friends, and we thought that would bring us happiness. Then, we got out of the house, away from our parents and wanted the freedom of being on our own, the freedom that money could buy, being able to buy and do the things that we thought would make us happy.
So, here we are today. At whatever point you are in your life, you are here, right now. Now, when you think about being free, what comes to mind? What is the freedom you desire? Sometimes, even though we have grown up, we may still feel enslaved to our old ways of thinking about ourselves and the world. We may still feel enslaved to any thought or emotion or sensation that arises within us.
In our culture, freedom is often thought of as an ability to chase after any desire that we have. We want the freedom to eat what we want to eat, to drink what we want to drink, the freedom to act on any whim that strikes us. But what the Buddha discovered is that acting on any whim that arises is actually no freedom at all. In fact, it becomes the worst kind of imprisonment. We are imprisoned by our desires, forced to act on them, unable to withstand the feelings of withdrawal that arise if not acted upon.
What the Buddha discovered was that NOT acting on every whim of desire was the FIRST step towards ultimate happiness. Starting with a willingness to see clearly what these whims are all about, we start to see the world at a deeper level of richness, of fullness, of true reality, of true freedom.
In Buddhism, the desire for ultimate freedom is one of the tools that we can harness to find the long-lasting peace and happiness that we’ve been looking for all along. As adults, we are no longer constrained by our parents, or at least not physically. But we may feel constrained by our unskillful habits or constrained by our emotions or even our thoughts, constrained by our illusions about what life is about or constrained by what we think we are supposed to be doing. It’s easy to get lost in the shackles of illusions that keep us from being completely happy and at peace. The Buddha taught that the only obstacle to complete freedom and happiness is our own misguided way of thinking.
The very important first step to finding this deep sense of happiness, is to disengage from the constant need to become entangled with these passing thoughts and emotions.
Buddhism teaches us to focus our desire on this inner freedom of choice. Emotions or thoughts will continue to arise, and yet we always have the freedom to choose IF to react and then HOW to react.
When we become aware of our emotional and mental entanglements, only then, we can see them more clearly, see them for what they are—only illusive and illusory, and only then can we become free of them.
In a beautifully written book entitled Wake Up to Your Life, Ken McLeod gives an eloquent description of how bringing attention to our thoughts and emotions can free us from their hold. He gives a four-step process for dismantling these old patterns.
When compassionate attention becomes the habit, then we are truly free to live our lives in peace regardless of what arises.
Joseph Goldstein in "The Evolution of Happiness" (Fall 2005) describes this state as The Highest Happiness:
If I can wish for only one thing for you in this next year or at any point in your life, it would be to have a deep desire and commitment to inner freedom…that’s where real happiness is found.
Have a mindful and magical 2012!
So, here we are today. At whatever point you are in your life, you are here, right now. Now, when you think about being free, what comes to mind? What is the freedom you desire? Sometimes, even though we have grown up, we may still feel enslaved to our old ways of thinking about ourselves and the world. We may still feel enslaved to any thought or emotion or sensation that arises within us.
In our culture, freedom is often thought of as an ability to chase after any desire that we have. We want the freedom to eat what we want to eat, to drink what we want to drink, the freedom to act on any whim that strikes us. But what the Buddha discovered is that acting on any whim that arises is actually no freedom at all. In fact, it becomes the worst kind of imprisonment. We are imprisoned by our desires, forced to act on them, unable to withstand the feelings of withdrawal that arise if not acted upon.
What the Buddha discovered was that NOT acting on every whim of desire was the FIRST step towards ultimate happiness. Starting with a willingness to see clearly what these whims are all about, we start to see the world at a deeper level of richness, of fullness, of true reality, of true freedom.
A great Italian novelist, Luigi Pirandello said,
“You must not count overmuch on your reality as you FEEL it today, since, like that of yesterday, it may prove an illusion for you tomorrow.”
In Buddhism, the desire for ultimate freedom is one of the tools that we can harness to find the long-lasting peace and happiness that we’ve been looking for all along. As adults, we are no longer constrained by our parents, or at least not physically. But we may feel constrained by our unskillful habits or constrained by our emotions or even our thoughts, constrained by our illusions about what life is about or constrained by what we think we are supposed to be doing. It’s easy to get lost in the shackles of illusions that keep us from being completely happy and at peace. The Buddha taught that the only obstacle to complete freedom and happiness is our own misguided way of thinking.
The very important first step to finding this deep sense of happiness, is to disengage from the constant need to become entangled with these passing thoughts and emotions.
Buddhism teaches us to focus our desire on this inner freedom of choice. Emotions or thoughts will continue to arise, and yet we always have the freedom to choose IF to react and then HOW to react.
-Matthieu Ricard, "Working with Desire" (Tricycle, Summer 2004)
“If we know how to focus on our inner freedom, we can experience all sensations within the pristine simplicity of the present moment, in a state of well-being that is free from grasping and expectation.”
When we become aware of our emotional and mental entanglements, only then, we can see them more clearly, see them for what they are—only illusive and illusory, and only then can we become free of them.
In a beautifully written book entitled Wake Up to Your Life, Ken McLeod gives an eloquent description of how bringing attention to our thoughts and emotions can free us from their hold. He gives a four-step process for dismantling these old patterns.
1. Recognize: When we have sensations or emotions or thoughts, we begin to pay attention to them, become aware that a particular thought or emotion is arising.
2. Disidentify: We start to see these sensations or emotions or thoughts as NOT who we are, but rather to see them as just ephemeral desires or aversions arising. We are NOT our thoughts. We are NOT our emotions.
3. Develop a practice: We practice not identifying with them. Each time a thought or emotion arises, we have an opportunity to form a new habit, to pay attention, to examine it and disidentify with it, so we can see it more clearly. At the start of this new year, you might be considering adding “have a regular meditation and mindfulness practice” to your New Year’s resolutions. This is a fantastic idea! I encourage you to also be prepared for all the ups and downs of life that will inevitably occur this year. Be clear in your intention for inner freedom, so that difficult situations or thoughts or emotions no longer keep you from your deepest desire.
4. Cut through with practice: The Buddhist practice as about more than sitting on a cushion quietly. It’s greatest power comes from using these tools in each moment of our daily lives. Each time a thought or emotion arises, we can apply the antidote to it, the antidote of awareness and compassionate attention. Again and again, until compassionate attention becomes the habit.
When compassionate attention becomes the habit, then we are truly free to live our lives in peace regardless of what arises.
Joseph Goldstein in "The Evolution of Happiness" (Fall 2005) describes this state as The Highest Happiness:
"It is said that after his enlightenment the Buddha was motivated to teach by seeing that all beings were seeking happiness, yet out of ignorance were doing the very things that brought them suffering. This aroused his great compassion to point the way to freedom.
The Buddha spoke of the various stages on the unfolding path of awakening. As we penetrate deeper into the process of opening, to awakening to what is, the happiness of each stage brings us progressively closer to the highest kind of happiness, the happiness of nibbana, of freedom. That is the point of being fully awake."
If I can wish for only one thing for you in this next year or at any point in your life, it would be to have a deep desire and commitment to inner freedom…that’s where real happiness is found.
Have a mindful and magical 2012!
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