A man once approached the Buddha and said: “I want happiness!” The Buddha replied:
First, let go the “I” —it is only ego.
Then, let go the “want” —it is only attachment.
What is left is just “happiness“.
This is not only a clever turn of phrase, but a deep teaching. The only things standing between us and pure happiness are our false view of self and our afflicted emotions.
As long as “I want”, I cannot be happy. “I” is a consciousness of separation. “(I) want” is a consciousness of lack, an affirmation of imperfection.
Separation and imperfection are the causes and the definition of suffering, because the natural state of all sentient beings is perfect unity.
The remedy for both is the view of emptiness, the lack insubstantiality and impermanence of the false self and the objects of desire.
After separation and imperfection dissipate, the stainless remainder is true purity: true self, true bliss, and true permanence.
Reblogged this on positive cranial entropy.
Thank you!