One of the first questions any spiritual aspirant needs to ask themselves is what do I want, and why? Often, the truthful answer to the question of why we do anything is: because it is what this life has impressed upon me. In other words, we are shaped by our past, which was created by external influences, seeking their own ends. Our genetic material just wishes to proliferate and survive.
Read moreThe fine line between love and attachment
What are you holding on for?
How to love without attachment?
How to be indifferent and dispassionate without falling into the trap of not caring?
What is attachment? It is characterised by a connection that has a sense of discontentment with things as they are. It is often accompanied by feelings of fear and inadequacy. Attachment comes with strain, and a dependence on factors external to the Self.
And what is love? Love is also characterised by connection, but it is a connection that is like a celebration. It is a connection that recognises the wholeness of both parts. Unlike attachment, love is not trying to change or compensate for anything. Love does not try at all. It is effortless.
Because both love and attachment are established by a strong connection between the parts, their difference can be subtle, but within that subtle difference is the most radical of existential shifts.