Detachment - Self-Mastery - Discipline

Westerners are drawn to Buddhism for a wide variety of reasons, but many are specifically attracted because they want to learn to let go of unwanted states of mind that are making them unhappy.

Some want to let go of anxieties, fears, obsessive thoughts etc. Others say they can't relax and mediate because they think too much, often letting old and painful thoughts take over.

Letting got and achieving detachment requires some level of self-mastery. It requires the cultivation of self-awareness and a healthy discipline.

Travelling Inward

Remember that taking the spiritual path always includes traveling inward to learn as much as we can about ourselves. Reflect on what 'travelling inward' means. Our dreams at night are a subtle reminder of that rich inner landscape.

Inner Landscape - The Mind

In Buddhism the inner landscape is called 'mind'. Buddhism is known as a 'science of the mind' and seen as a way of refining and cultivating the heart-mind and its various forms of intelligence through attention and attitude transformation practices. Learning to consciously direct, focus, and tame the flight, restless, and confused mind is the heroic challenge of life.

Stilling The Mind

Meditation practice helps to train and concentrate our restless mind, so that, like a trained horse, the power and focused attention and awareness can be used however we choose, rather than it running us. Since everything depends on our mind, even more than our body, cultivating a well-tamed, stable and concentrated mind can bring us the serenity and spiritual realization we seek, as well as providing extraordinary feelings of bliss, infinite peace, harmony, and awareness.

(Inspired by Lama Surya Das: Letting go of the person you used to be)