| |
Letting go
and Acceptance:
 Bhante
Sankichcha
Letting go
and Acceptance:
These two qualities are very unique in the Dhamma practice and for ones
who seek the peace
and harmony within. Apparently they seem to be totally opposite but it
is interesting to see that how these two qualities are practiced and
cultivated simultaneously. In fact, in general, people experience a
great difficulty
in practicing and even understanding what “letting go” and “acceptance”
really are and how to apply them in practical life.
We have hard time in letting go of things when we have to. The reason
for this is
the opposite tendency of attachment towards things, feelings, emotions,
relationships, concepts and ego. It is a real question that how we can
let go of things that we are attached to. In fact, these are not what
we like or
want to let go of but the negativities such as pain, fear, doubts,
uncertainty, insecurity, and any mental or physical disturbances that
we create when we are engaged within these experiences. It’s natural
for anyone to
dissolve themselves into these negativities and eventually find nothing
but suffering. We would do anything to let go of these negativities but
we find it is not that easy. For an instance, when we have to forgive
someone
or forget someone or an unpleasant memory that we are emotionally
involved with. The physical pain or illnesses are very common
experiences that we find difficult to let go of but after all, that is
our life is all about.
Through any type of spiritual practice, we expect to find ourselves in
peace and comfort whenever we are going through these inevitable
phenomenon in life.
How does this letting go happen through our spiritual practice?
This has no one single way or technique to it. Depending on the
negativities and the characters, letting go has a multidimensional
approach to it. Sometimes it is a mistake for some people to look for
one particular technique
to let go of something that they really want to let go of and that
would not be very effective. In the Buddha’s teachings, we find much
support for ourselves in practicing of letting go. According to the
techniques, sometimes,
we have to cultivate the total opposite positive qualities to the
negativities that we want to let go of such as loving-kindness over
anger or hate, appreciative joy over jealousy, patience over
impatience, generosity over
greediness etc.. At times, cultivating firm determination or effort in
a balanced manner is a powerful solution. Patience, and giving it a
time, plays an interesting role in many cases. Mindfulness to detect
any negativity
whenever they are present would be the first approach when we try to
manage them insightfully. To use our intellect or wisdom to understand
the situations, reality of negativities, and even how to apply any of
those proper
techniques at the proper time, is what is missing in most of us. On top
of all these techniques, the cultivation of meditation is the most
powerful way of establishing all these spiritual qualities that help us
learn how to
let go. Most powerfully, the penetrative realization of impermanence
that every condition of any negativity or any condition is subject to
change having no much of our control, the unsatisfactory experience of
any worldly
conditions when ever we are emotionally attached to them, and the
reality that every condition is free of a self identification. When
these qualities are cultivated within, as a gradual training, they have
the long-term effect
in learning and we become comfortable letting go whenever needed.
When we learn and cultivate how to let go, what remains in us is the
acceptance, the other most difficulty in life. There are many things
that we have
to accept in our life. No matter whether we like them or not,
inevitably we have to accept them. This acceptance sounds like letting
it be or doing nothing or interfering in any way to change or control.
In our life experience,
there are certain conditions that we do not have our control over at
all. For that, there is nothing we can do but accept it. For an
example, fatal illnesses like cancer. Sometimes we have to tolerate
very unsatisfactory relationships,
sickness, weather conditions, and emotions, which we can never run away
from. There, we need to make them satisfactory experiences through any
meaningful and effective way. This unique quality of acceptance brings
us such
a beauty, joy and peace in to our life. Instead of getting lost in the
negativities, one may begin to enjoy life in a meaningful and joyful
way. To achieve this ability of accepting things, most possibly, the
above-mentioned
spiritual qualities can be equally helpful. When we cultivate those
qualities within, both letting go and acceptance are cultivated in a
manner that helps each other develop themselves. They both go hand in
hand, that cannot
be separated.
This harmonious cultivation of letting go and acceptance makes our life
much easier and comfortable. They may support our relationships,
performing of our own duties towards each other out of perfect
love and compassion, letting go of much tension and discomfort,
possibly, the complete freedom of suffering when those spiritual
qualities are cultivated up to perfection level.
By Bhante
Sankichcha
Meditation
Practice and Spiritual Growth
in a Western Society
by
Thomas Case
Red Rock Friends
by Kelly
Johnston
Please click
the title for the full article
|
