Episode 157: Constant Craving Versus Letting Go

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Buddha taught that no chains are as powerful as attachment, and nothing bonds us to suffering like our attachment. In the First Noble Truth, Buddha didn't just say, "Life is pervaded by suffering," but defined suffering:</span></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">In short, the five clinging-aggregates are dukkha (suffering).</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">"And what is the cause by which dukkha (suffering) comes into play? Craving is the cause by which dukkha comes into play.</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The five aggregates are what make up everything, including our self: physical form, feelings, perceptions, mental fabrications, and consciousness. But the aggregates aren't the problem. It's everything in us that is clinging. In particular, pain and problems are caused by craving that leads us to be attached to something; whether we are attached to gems, children, our expectations, opinions, or money. Craving is an action; because it's an action, we can stop craving. If we can stop craving, we can stop suffering. Craving is the inappropriate attention we give to the object we want by dwelling on its desirable qualities. At first, we just encounter a desirable object or situation we want. But it is inappropriate attention---the thinking-dwelling-craving-- that eventually causes attachment to arise. Feed it long enough, and attachment will arise and bind us to what we want so tightly that we can't be satisfied without it. When we don't get what we're attached to, suffering follows like the shadow of a body.  </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So what can we feed our minds instead when we very much want something? We can feed it non-attachment. We can let go. Let go of others' opinions of us…let go of how others behave…let go of ideas about how an experience would be…let go of expectations of others…let go of needing a particular thing…let go of a person that isn't healthy for us. Pr