There are no chains
July 30, 2024 2024-09-08 11:05There are no chains
Cathal Costello Costello
But the direct path is to realize that right now, there really are no chains. In reality, the ignorant mind is grasping at the smoke and mirrors of these five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, thinking, and sensory consciousness), which are all subject to arising and therefore subject to passing away. But this essential knowing nature that is not subject to arising and passing away—the ever-present awareness of this moment—is the place of liberation here and now. In other words, there are no chains holding you. There is only you holding yourself. That’s why Ajahn Chah says the Dhamma is easy. Simply know and let go. That knowing is what they call “Self” in Vedanta. The Buddha taught not-self (non-identification) because when we look for our essential knowing nature (as Ajahn Chah called it), we first notice physical sensation (form) and mistake that as it. Or we mistake feeling, perception, thinking, and/or consciousness as it. This is what the Buddha called “the five aggregates afflicted by clinging (identification).” Non-identification is the direct path out of suffering. The Dukkha Dukkha Nirodha I practice now is going from the conditioned directly to the unconditioned anytime this present awareness contracts even a tiny bit. The chains don’t have us. We are like the monkey whose fist is stuck in the coconut because it won’t let go of the food inside… –Dhammarato
But the direct path is to realize that right now, there really are no chains. In reality, the ignorant mind is grasping at the smoke and mirrors of these five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, thinking, and sensory consciousness), which are all subject to arising and therefore subject to passing away. But this essential knowing nature that is not subject to arising and passing away—the ever-present awareness of this moment—is the place of liberation here and now. In other words, there are no chains holding you. There is only you holding yourself. That’s why Ajahn Chah says the Dhamma is easy. Simply know and let go. That knowing is what they call “Self” in Vedanta. The Buddha taught not-self (non-identification) because when we look for our essential knowing nature (as Ajahn Chah called it), we first notice physical sensation (form) and mistake that as it. Or we mistake feeling, perception, thinking, and/or consciousness as it. This is what the Buddha called “the five aggregates afflicted by clinging (identification).” Non-identification is the direct path out of suffering. The Dukkha Dukkha Nirodha I practice now is going from the conditioned directly to the unconditioned anytime this present awareness contracts even a tiny bit. The chains don’t have us. We are like the monkey whose fist is stuck in the coconut because it won’t let go of the food inside… –Dhammarato
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