Our attachments exist on various levels. From the very gross levels of physical or sensual attachments to deeper levels of emotional, mental, and spiritual attachments. Before we discuss this in some detail, let us first shed some light on what is meant with the word 'attachment'.
Attachment happens when we start to grasp at objects, such as people, items, ideas, or experiences. Through years and years of mental conditioning, our minds have created certain beliefs and fixed ideas. We impute these personalized 'ideas' onto objects, and that leads us to generate attachment. Thus, it is not the actual object we are attached to, but the idea of it, the way we see it, and how we feel about it. Our perception of it.
Why perception? Consider this. All of us live in a reality unique to our own way of seeing and experiencing. We all have our own unique experiences. For example, we may feel attached to a certain person. We constantly think about this person, desire to be with this person, being completely obsessed with this person. At the same time, someone else may despise this person, and cannot even stand the idea of being in the same room as this person. How does this work? See, it is not about the person itself, but about our particular idea of this person.
Attachment goes hand-in-hand with desires, which also brings us endless unhappiness. Consider how we desire objects that we feel attached to, and when our desires remain unfulfilled, we start to experience anger - as discussed in a previous article. Based on this, it may be worth investing our time and energy into doing constant introspection and working on mindfulness.
Attachment happens on a spiritual level too. We get attached to our idea of God, our idea of a certain religion or philosophy. We get so attached, that we totally reject other opinions and beliefs, feeling that only my way is true, real, and correct. When our beliefs are questioned, we quickly feel intimidated. If we are easily shaken when someone questions or debates our beliefs, we need to check up! Why are we feeling shaken and intimidated? Why do we feel offended? It could mean that we are attached to our philosophies or beliefs.
It goes even deeper. We may have a specific meditation technique or a teacher, through which we experienced some internal realizations, spontaneous moments of bliss, or insights. Now, we want this again! We start to do this same meditation over and over, to have this experience again, and without knowing it, we become attached to a spiritual practice. Not doing it with love or devotion, but doing it for the pure purpose of satisfying our grasping minds.
We can put ourselves to a little test. Think of not doing a meditation or prayer for one week, or think of doing a different spiritual practice for a week. How does this idea make us feel? If there is any aversion towards this or if any vulnerability surfaces, again it may be that we have generated attachment towards our religion or beliefs.
Another practice could be by living in the present, in the here and now. By always being in the present, our minds are not caught up in old memories or future expectations. We simply experience objects for what they are, without exaggeration or expectations.
Lastly, we could do some self-inquiry. We look at who is actually attached? Who is this 'I' that is attached to all these things? Who or what is this idea of 'me'? If or when we get to the root of this, we may realize that there was no one there to get attached at all, and free ourselves from an endless cycle of unhappiness!
Attachment happens when we start to grasp at objects, such as people, items, ideas, or experiences. Through years and years of mental conditioning, our minds have created certain beliefs and fixed ideas. We impute these personalized 'ideas' onto objects, and that leads us to generate attachment. Thus, it is not the actual object we are attached to, but the idea of it, the way we see it, and how we feel about it. Our perception of it.
Why perception? Consider this. All of us live in a reality unique to our own way of seeing and experiencing. We all have our own unique experiences. For example, we may feel attached to a certain person. We constantly think about this person, desire to be with this person, being completely obsessed with this person. At the same time, someone else may despise this person, and cannot even stand the idea of being in the same room as this person. How does this work? See, it is not about the person itself, but about our particular idea of this person.
Attachment leads to unhappiness
Through attachment, we open the door to endless amounts of unhappiness. We live in a reality where we experience constant change. Everything we know, is bound to impermanence, even the things we are most attached to. Even the mere idea of separating from something we feel attached to makes us feel angry, sad, or vulnerable. We get attached to our financial status, clothes, house, or spouse so quickly, without even noticing it. Most of the time, we only realize it when it is too late, and when the suffering is already there.Attachment goes hand-in-hand with desires, which also brings us endless unhappiness. Consider how we desire objects that we feel attached to, and when our desires remain unfulfilled, we start to experience anger - as discussed in a previous article. Based on this, it may be worth investing our time and energy into doing constant introspection and working on mindfulness.
Attachment happens on a spiritual level too. We get attached to our idea of God, our idea of a certain religion or philosophy. We get so attached, that we totally reject other opinions and beliefs, feeling that only my way is true, real, and correct. When our beliefs are questioned, we quickly feel intimidated. If we are easily shaken when someone questions or debates our beliefs, we need to check up! Why are we feeling shaken and intimidated? Why do we feel offended? It could mean that we are attached to our philosophies or beliefs.
It goes even deeper. We may have a specific meditation technique or a teacher, through which we experienced some internal realizations, spontaneous moments of bliss, or insights. Now, we want this again! We start to do this same meditation over and over, to have this experience again, and without knowing it, we become attached to a spiritual practice. Not doing it with love or devotion, but doing it for the pure purpose of satisfying our grasping minds.
A real sense of freedom
Without attachment, we can respect all views, religions, and philosophies. It does not mean that we have to participate in other practices, but we can at least respect them, because just as we may feel that what we have is the ultimate truth, others may feel the same way. In fact, when we start to loosen up and listen to other views and understandings, we may actually learn a lot!We can put ourselves to a little test. Think of not doing a meditation or prayer for one week, or think of doing a different spiritual practice for a week. How does this idea make us feel? If there is any aversion towards this or if any vulnerability surfaces, again it may be that we have generated attachment towards our religion or beliefs.
Living without spiritual attachment gives us internal freedom. Freedom from chasing ideas, or past memories. We can enjoy moments of insight, bliss, and realization, without grasping or clinging to them. Observing them coming, appreciating them for what they are, and observing them fading again. It also takes away a tremendous amount of suffering, because we are free from clinging to anything that is bound to impermanence.
How do we deal with this attachment? Well, there may be a few potential paths we could consider or the combination of all of them. One option would be to meditate or contemplate the way we see things. To check up and see if things really exist in the way we think they do, or if we are just imputing our personalized ideas onto them? Through this, we may realize that things are not what they appear to be, and we may realize the emptiness of things and break all attachments which bind us.
How do we deal with this attachment? Well, there may be a few potential paths we could consider or the combination of all of them. One option would be to meditate or contemplate the way we see things. To check up and see if things really exist in the way we think they do, or if we are just imputing our personalized ideas onto them? Through this, we may realize that things are not what they appear to be, and we may realize the emptiness of things and break all attachments which bind us.
Another practice could be by living in the present, in the here and now. By always being in the present, our minds are not caught up in old memories or future expectations. We simply experience objects for what they are, without exaggeration or expectations.
Lastly, we could do some self-inquiry. We look at who is actually attached? Who is this 'I' that is attached to all these things? Who or what is this idea of 'me'? If or when we get to the root of this, we may realize that there was no one there to get attached at all, and free ourselves from an endless cycle of unhappiness!
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| A path without attachment could give us a real sense of freedom and peace. |
This article proved to be an eye opener for me. I really liked the part where the test for attachment has been mentioned. I experimented with it and found that I was attached to a certain shool of thought. The technique of overcoming the attachment also came in handy in getting rid of attachment. I would like to thank the writer for shedding light on these subtle aspects which often get missed out in our daily lives.
ReplyDeleteDear reader,
DeleteThank you for your valuable contribution. It is insightful to hear the opinions and experiences of the readers.
Yes, we can all check up and see where we still need to do some internal work, from the gross levels up to the very subtle levels of our minds.
Even a golden ornament needs to be polished from time to time.
💚