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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Craving and aversion - The source of restlessness, unhappiness and suffering...

Suffering, unhappiness, anger, hatred, greed, jealousy, hurts, dissatisfaction, disappointment, frustration, pride, arrogance, fear and worry are all derived from craving and aversion.

Without craving and aversion, there is no unhappiness and suffering.

When there's an identification with the egoistic mind as who we think we are, or "I", and the mind is being over-powered by craving and aversion, we'll crave for the things that we agree with, that we like and want, and we'll reject the things that we don't agree with, that we don't like and don't want.

Before we come in contact with anything that we don't like and don't want, but we are already full of aversion, tension, negativity, fear and worries that we might come in contact with the things that we don't like and don't want. So restless and have no peace.

When we come in contact with the things that we don't agree with, that we don't like and don't want, we'll get so irritated, unhappy, frustrated, angry, dissatisfied and disappointed. Even after we get rid of the things that we don't like and don't want, we are still not peaceful, because we attach onto the past unhappy and unpleasant experience that generates a strong aversion that we don't want to come in contact with the same experiences or objects again. Full of tension of fear and worry that come from strong aversion.

Before we get the things that we like and want, we are restless and have no peace. We are full of dissatisfaction, greed and craving for the things that we don't have which we like and want to have.

When we don't get the things that we like and want, we'll get so unhappy, frustrated, angry, dissatisfied, disappointed, and jealous towards others who have the things that we like and want.

When we finally get the things that we like and want, we'll attach to these impermanent objects of names and forms, generate craving and clinging onto them. We have no peace even though we get the things that we like and want, because we'll be over-powered by pride and arrogance that derived from the achievement of the things that we like and want, but at the same time, we also have fear and worry that these things that we like and want will change and disappear, and this will cause us losing the fantastic sensation of being proud and arrogant that derived from achieving the things that we like and want. We have strong rejection or aversion that we don't want these things to change and disappear. We don't allow them to change and refuse to let them go when impermanence strikes. This is impossible under the law of nature - the Truth of things - Impermanence. We'll be so disappointed and dissatisfied when the pleasant sensations disappeared upon losing the things that we like and want because of impermanence.

And so, no matter we get the things that we like and want, or not, and whether we don't get the things that we don't like and don't want, we will always be dissatisfied, not peaceful, restless, anxious, and have fear and worry.

If we can let go craving and aversion, we can fully enjoy what we have in the present moment now, without fear and worry of losing it or it will change. We can appreciate and enjoy everything as it is, not necessarily the way that we want it to be, but we are able to accept everything to be the way as it is, from moment to moment. Without craving for the things that we don't have in the present moment now, and without clinging onto the things that we have in the present moment now. We also won't have rejection or aversion towards the things that we don't like and don't want. We allow everything to be here existing temporary in this same space of the universe of where we are, whether it is something that we like or don't like, want or don't want, agree or disagree with. We allow impermanence to be happening from moment to moment. We accept the changes of the conditions and qualities of names and forms of everything as it is.

This is true freedom. Real liberation. Being free from anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, hurts, dissatisfaction, disappointment, frustration, anxiety, pride, arrogance, fear and worry.

We can have likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements. We don't have to like the things that we don't like, and we don't have to agree with the things that we don't agree with. But, without the attachment towards the things that we like and don't like, agree and disagree with. Without craving and aversion towards all the names and forms that we like and don't like, agree and disagree with. And thus, we will be free from all the impurities that arise due to craving and aversion.

When we don't have the things that we like and want, but we are free from greed, disappointment, dissatisfaction or craving for these things that we like and want. We are fine, and still peaceful and happy.

If we are not coming in contact with the things that we don't like and don't want, there's no fear and worry that we will come in contact with these things that we don't like and don't want. We are fine, and still peaceful and happy.

When we come in contact with the things that we don't like and don't agree with, we don't have disappointment, anger and hatred towards these things that we don't like and don't agree with. We are fine, and still peaceful and happy.

When we get the things that we like and want, we don't have fear and worry that these things will change and disappear. We will appreciate and enjoy all these things that we like and want while it is here, but we allow impermanence to be happening and able to let them go in peace when they change and disappear.

When we know the Truth of things as it is, that everything is impermanent, we won't have strong attachment towards all these names and forms. When we know what is non-duality, namelessness, formlessness and attributeless, there is no attachment towards all the qualities of names and forms, whether we think they are good or bad. When there is no attachment, there is no need of "letting go". There is no craving for something "good" and there is no aversion towards something "bad". There is neither "good" nor "bad".

Changes, impermanence, being with the things that we don't like, separation from the things that we like and love, old age, sickness, discomfort, pain, injuries, weakness, decay, death or decomposition of this physical body are not something "bad" or "horrible". When we stopped judging or labeling all these things as something "bad" and "horrible", there won't be craving for something "good", and there's no aversion towards something "bad" and "horrible". And thus there is no fear, no worry. There's no anxiety or restlessness that come from craving for the things that are being labelled as "good" and aversion towards the things that are being labelled as "not good".

Without craving and aversion, there's no fear and worry. Absence of fear and worry is peace.

We accept ourselves and other beings in this present moment now as we are, as they are. We are contented and peaceful. At the same time, we can perform actions for the well-beings of ourselves and other beings out of selflessness and compassion, and allow the result of our actions to be what it is and allow improvement or changes to happen naturally. Without attachment towards our actions and the result of the actions. Without selfish desires or intentions, judgment, comparison and expectation. Without the influence of likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements that come from the impure egoistic mind.


We don't need to depend or rely on doing something "good" or not doing something "not good", to have peace. We don't need to be in specific "good" place or "nice" environment, to have peace. Peace is here, when there's no craving and aversion, fear and worry. Wherever we are, whatever we do and don't do, peace is always here in us.

When we realize the real peace in our true nature free from ignorance, egoism and impurities, we don't need to do something or go somewhere to attain peace, or to be in peace. We don't need to depend on doing the things that we like to do to have peace. Whatever we do or don't do, wherever we go or don't go, we are always peaceful as we are.


This real peace never increase or decrease, never change or disappear. This real peace is unconditional and unlimited by the impermanent condition and ability of this physical body, the state of the mind, the energy fields and elements, the actions and inactions of this body and mind. Neither does it be conditioned or limited by the qualities of names and forms that we come in contact with, or by the condition of the environment. It is beyond all the perception of names and forms and the qualities of good and bad, positive and negative.

Nothing can make us happy. Nothing can make us suffer. Nothing can give us peace. Nothing can take away the peace in us.

Letting go of attachments, craving and aversion in our everyday life whenever the mind comes in contact with the objects of the senses, is our yoga and meditation practice to realize eternal unconditional peace. This is nothing to do with whether our body is strong and flexible, or not, or in good health, or not, or whether we can perform the yoga asana poses perfectly, or not, or we can chant the Sanskrit prayers in perfect pronunciation, or not, or we know all the asana poses and their names, or not, or know about all the bones and muscle tissues in the physical body or not, or whether we can speak, read and write perfectly, or not, or whether there are people like us and agree with us, or not, or whether we have been through many courses, retreats and workshops, or not, or whether we have one or many "International yoga affiliation" recognized certification, or not.

There is no need a piece of paper to qualified and certified us to realize the peace in us and to share this peace and wisdom with all other beings. There is no need one or many pieces of papers to show anyone that we are peaceful and we want to show loving kindness to other beings, when we realized selflessness and compassion.

There are people who have never come in contact with yoga asana practice, meditation practice, or yoga philosophy, but it doesn't stop them from realizing the peace in them and be selfless and compassionate, if they know what is non-attachment and be free from the ego, craving and aversion. Peace, love and compassion doesn't belong to particular religion, or practice, or belief. Peace, compassion and wisdom exists in everyone, disregards what are the differences of conditions, qualities, names and forms. A very weak and sick or paralyzed person can also have peace and be free from "suffering".

Even if we practice yoga asana and meditation everyday, and name ourselves as "yogis", it's not necessarily that we will be peaceful and be free from anger, hatred, jealousy, hurts, fear and worry, if we do not know what is non-attachment and be free from the ego, craving and aversion.

Realize this real peace and be free. Be truly content and happy, unconditionally.

1 comment:

  1. Great article . Cravings and aversions are indeed the problem.

    ReplyDelete

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