Letting Go

"As rain penetrates an ill-thatched house, So lust penetrates an undeveloped mind.
As rain does not penetrate a well-thatched house, So lust does not penetrate a well-developed mind."

-Dhammapada (13-14)

http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/articles/sensualdesire.html

Okay, Kristen. Just let go.

What am I letting go of?

First, I am letting go of the physical tension I percieve in my stomach. It feels tight a lot of the time. Breathe through it. Let go. You can let it go. Why? Because it causes you suffering and all beings whom you encounter, especially her. Let go of the tension in your stomach. Breathe.

Second, it is easier to let go of the physical tension. I already feel some peace. I'm beginning to let go of this tension in my stomch and now feel it in my fingers and hands from typing; it's an expected, tolerable suffering.

Third, where does this tightness originate from? I don't know believe it comes from my stomach.

Of course, it orginates in my mind, but I place my mind in my heart. There is want or desire in my heart. Want is a synonym for desire; desire in Buddhism means clinging, and clinging is the cause of suffering. We suffer because we cling.

Why do we cling? Sometimes, it has to to do with the other defintion of want: absence. I want to fill the absence/emptiness in my heart. Why is my heart empty? It's a delusion, a trick of the mind, and I will not believe that delusion. I will cultivate mindfulness and forgive myself--forgive my anger, my desire, my emptiness, and fill my heart with clear observations, right endeavors. This is part of letting go. Always remember: P.A.C.K.

Prevent: Keep unskillful thoughts, feelings, and actions from occuring. Unskillful means simply, things that cause suffering. Skillful means cultivating or keeping that which does not cause suffering and brings peace, happiness, and awareness for you.

Abandon: Relinquish the unskillful states that have already occured. These unskillful things cause suffering, and one can let go of them. You let go physically, first, and then, psychologically. Breathe.

Cultivate: Promote skillful behaviors, feelings, and thoughts. Like a garden, prevent and discontinue the growth of weeds; cultivate and promote the growth of flowers, whatever brings peace, happpiness, and beauty for you.

Keep: Retain skillful states-- states, which one works hard to attain, will prosper and stay with you wherever you go. Peace, happiness, love, and beauty, whichyou define subjectively, will butterfly your existence. Sure, we all forget these principles and forget to apply them. Desire is strong, so you must keep moving ahead and forgive yourself, keep practicing the dharma and other spiritual principles.

My faith is strong; there is no way we won't get there. There is no way I won't get there.