123 Non-Attachment - "The Great Way"

How is non-attachment possible? Short of repression, we will only let go if we trade for something better. The ultimate non-attachment, therefore, is only possible in Awakening. In Oneness, we are All. Everything has become us.

From my contemplation 19. The story about the Abbott was recounted as heard on a podcast by Jack Kornfield.

These podcasts are meant to supplement your personal path of awakening, whatever that might be. They are a compilation of what I have found to be the most helpful over the last 50 years on my path of awakening. These podcasts are most powerful when listened to in sequence from podcast one forward because each is built on the last. Though they also all stand on their own. We are all different, so if anything does not resonate, please disregard it and follow your heart.

Though I am a psychotherapist, these podcasts are offered to be spiritually helpful. They are not psychotherapy. Please reach out to a psychotherapist if ever needed.

Transcript

The great way non-attachment the third Chinese patriarch wrote The great way is not difficult For those who are not attached to preferences. I like that Letting go that feels so good But wait a minute How can we have no attachments sounds great on paper? But how Well, I think there's really only one way I Can only give up something if I exchange it for something better See if this makes sense to you. I May be very angry if somebody takes my hundred dollar bill that I worked all day to earn I'm super attached to that hard-earned $100 perhaps I have food to buy or rent to pay But I've worked very hard for it and at the end of the day I have my $100 and I'm so attached to it but if somebody offers me a $1, 000 in exchange for it. I'm suddenly Super unattached to my hundred dollar bill Right. I Trade it up. Now. I have a thousand dollars But now I'm attached to the thousand dollars Darn it. I'm attached again. No great way for me. I have preferences well, I might be able to trade this earthly life for a beautiful heavenly one and No longer be attached to my earthly life But then I'll quickly become attached to the heavenly realms, Right? No great way again How about trading Jesus for Buddha or vice versa? No, Now we become quickly attached to our favorite. I like Buddha better or I like Jesus better attached attachment will stick to us until we experience ourselves as we truly are as complete happiness and satisfaction That's when we experience ourselves as the ultimate shining through We realize that we are one and we are all That we have let go we've let our ego go and God is now flowing through us fully God or the infinite However, You want to call it has become us To the degree that we've disappeared in Oneness or allness there are no preferences because we are all there's nothing to prefer We are one we have and are everything and Beyond as well We experience ourselves as complete and total fullness the highest all All Now we no longer need to be attached to anything. We have it all we are it all it's all one No desire or place to trade up from here. There is no higher thing to be attached to no emotion No thought person angel realm attitude nothing Nothing higher because you are Everything you are one you are everything and beyond You are what you want Everything is flowing through you in Oneness all is you Many of us are naturally ready now to experience ultimate happiness and let suffering go That's why we do our spiritual practices whatever they might be an Abbot of a Tibetan monastery used to occasionally mingle with the monks and the aspirants He would wander up to one of them and ask happy and if they said yes, He would nod smile and reply good and Off he would walk If they said no, He would nod smile and reply ah attached and Off he would walk happy Let's continue to let go Let's continue our spiritual practices Letting go into the infinite Letting go into who we truly are peace love and well-being This is William Cooper. I look forward to talking to you next time. Take care. Bye

Reviews

This is a great one to return to again and again. It’s so easy in this human existence, especially with the human ego to attach to something without even realizing it. I especially love being attached to preferences. I will pay attention to that… Thank you, William. 🧡🌞💛🧡🌞💛🧡🌞💛

Love the gentle humor that invites us to look at our attachment with more compassion.

I sure have a lot of letting go to let go! I think I would need to live in a monastery to accomplish this! Now I'm going to have a hard time letting go of this meditation!

Guided back to this podcast today, also the zen farmer story. Always grateful to you William 🙏

A wonderful contemplation, thank you. 🙏🏼 I loved the story about asking the monk, “Happy?” “No.” “Ahhh, attached.” That was powerful and will stick with me. ❤️