Create Your Own Heaven by Letting Go ...

NIRVANA – “UNBINDING"

Usually nirvana is interpreted as heaven. But directly translated it means “putting out fire or unbinding” (or letting go) . So Nirvana is not a place, it’s a practice, and there are a 100 little ways we unbind every day. Which means we’re already there.

In some metaphysical philosophies the concept of letting go means to be an ascetic – living strictly without luxury. But our practice means we work towards The Middle Way. We are diligent in our spiritual practice, but we don’t have to sleep on a bed of nails or live in poverty or misery. We have spiritual discipline and balance: a balance between comfort and living simply.

If giving up everything that’s beautiful doesn’t help us on our spiritual journey, there’s no point. We just need to remember that our luxuries aren’t what its all about and being surrounded by luxury doesn’t mean we are in control. We remember this so that we don’t unhinge or lose the plot - adding to our own suffering – if we lose our luxury or things don’t go our way.

Still the practice of letting go is often resisted because the idea suggests less or some form of "diminished". We might think there’s strength and freedom in being able to get what we want, or if we let go of our opinions we’re being weak or less.

But really freedom from our perspective is being free from wanting. Wanting or holding on always hurts because it binds us. We lose touch with ourselves, we can’t see clearly, we can’t be flexible, generous, open minded, and it creates suffering. For us and for those around us.

It’s important to investigate why we’re bound to something because unbinding or letting go can mean different things:

It can be simple: like being able to let go of our plans when things change.

Or more complicated, like being able to let go of the past.

But I found that almost always letting go isn’t about giving up or turning away.

To unbind means to relax / soften, accept and move into something.

When we let go of fear, we relax and move into a feeling of safety. Letting go of the need to be right means we can move into a feeling of generosity, tranquility.

Letting go of thoughts might allow us to move into a calmer frame of mind.

Sometimes we need to let go more than once. More than twice. Or even always. It's a practice in humility. And wonderful that we have that 'nut' which is there to help us remember to move into the mindset of "I can be happy or at least at ease, with what this moment is, with who or what I am. I dont need this to be any different, I dont need to be in control, to force it to be something else."

Letting go means we can allow ourselves to feel “OK, this moment is fine as it is. Its enough. Or I'm fine as it is, I'm enough. ” So with letting go, we make peace, we make space. We actually create more. More generosity, spontaneity, compassion, loving kindness....

Have a wonderful week of unbinding.

Thanks for sitting with me this morning.

Metta

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