Tuesday, November 18, 2008

DETACHMENT

Detachment is a wonderful quality to have on our spiritual journey, as long as it is only used in its proper place. It can help prevent us from squandering too much energy on dreams which are only remotely possible. It is important to remember, however, that detachment should come only after the battle is lost and never during the struggle, When things are hopeless, detachment lets you appreciate the outcome and the correctness of the world as it is. This is certainly true in the case our our ultimate death. We fight it with gusto until it is obvious that the end has come; and only at that moment do we use detachment to depart the world in peace. If you are too detached during a struggle, it is unlikely that you will ever win it; for passion is needed to succeed at most things in life.

Many Eastern religions and some Western ones make the mistake of being detached at the wrong time or over the wrong things. While this practice has its place in a poverty stricken, over populated place where detachment brings with it less suffering, it can easily lead to passivity. This must be guarded against by most so that they do not become less than their best. Both conflict and detachment are equally important qualities in our lives and we must learn to know when to use each of them.

If you think you need more detachment in your life, you might try the wishzone technique. Next time you find yourself attached to a strong desire, remember that every person has a wishzone, and area of desire that they will never obtain or achieve. For the rich, it may be that they will never own that rare collector’s item they have been trying to acquire; for the crippled, it may be a walk in the mountains; for the poor, it may be a new car or vacation. Simply knowing that every one has this wish zone and suffers from it, and that we all experience the same emotions and have access to the same ultimate lessons will help in acquiring detachment. This can be a powerful tool in life, but it must be used sparingly.

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