"Note that all dualistic concepts and emotions – even positive ones such as caring, compassion, and wishing others well – are accompanied by grasping at ‘self’. So although positive emotions are good, they still fall short of perfection, which is the primordial wisdom beyond dualistic thinking and emotional sensations. Grasping at positive qualities is nonetheless a stepping-stone to perfection, helping us eventually to loosen the grip of grasping at ‘self’ and to experience sensations of peace and joy. So, transforming from negative to positive, and then from positive to perfection, is the ideal way to move toward buddhahood, or full perfection."
~ Tulku Thondup
Commentary by Jerome:
Today I met a friend who was feeling troubled by her relationship problems. She tried to reaffirm herself positively but felt that this does not resolve the underlying issue. Still she was not feeling happy.
Indeed, being positive is good but not the best. Why is this so? By being positive, one may bring himself out of negative emotions and possibly depression. However, this merely diverts one's attention to another object and covers up the underlying cause of the problem. The true solution is to let go of the underlying grasping (aka attachment to the relationship).
By being positive, there is still "grasping" on to the positive object, which can be any of the 6 sense objects (taste, smell, touch, sights, sounds and thoughts). For instance, one may see a beautiful flower and think: "What a beautiful flower!" This emotion that arises can surely brighten your day but it still involve dualistic thinking (good and bad) and the arising of attachment to the object. In the highest cultivation, we should loosen this grip on ourselves and external objects. We see an object and no thought arises. We feel a soft toy and no thought arises. We rest in a peaceful state, a joyful and natural state that is free from any form of attachment to the 6 sense objects. Please do not mistake this as indifference! It is a clarity of the mind and the ability to see these objects in their natural state (Some people call this emptiness. Empty of secondary thoughts and conceptions. Empty of discriminative thoughts.) These sense objects are fundamentally not good or bad but it is the person experiencing it who labels them. When brought to perfection in this practice we can attain the highest form of cultivation.
Indeed, being positive is good but not the best. Why is this so? By being positive, one may bring himself out of negative emotions and possibly depression. However, this merely diverts one's attention to another object and covers up the underlying cause of the problem. The true solution is to let go of the underlying grasping (aka attachment to the relationship).
By being positive, there is still "grasping" on to the positive object, which can be any of the 6 sense objects (taste, smell, touch, sights, sounds and thoughts). For instance, one may see a beautiful flower and think: "What a beautiful flower!" This emotion that arises can surely brighten your day but it still involve dualistic thinking (good and bad) and the arising of attachment to the object. In the highest cultivation, we should loosen this grip on ourselves and external objects. We see an object and no thought arises. We feel a soft toy and no thought arises. We rest in a peaceful state, a joyful and natural state that is free from any form of attachment to the 6 sense objects. Please do not mistake this as indifference! It is a clarity of the mind and the ability to see these objects in their natural state (Some people call this emptiness. Empty of secondary thoughts and conceptions. Empty of discriminative thoughts.) These sense objects are fundamentally not good or bad but it is the person experiencing it who labels them. When brought to perfection in this practice we can attain the highest form of cultivation.
References:
Jerome is a Buddhist practitioner that has learnt from Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan traditions and is still learning! He first learnt meditation and Dharma from Theravadan monks and practitioners in the lineage of the Arahant Venerable Amatha Gavesi Maha Thero from Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist temple in Singapore. Then, he completed a Diploma in Buddhism from the Buddhist and Pali College in 2016. He also learnt from Zen Master Wu Jue Miao Tian (85th Zen Patriach) from the LingJi lineage in Taiwan in 2014 - 2015. Subsequently, he learnt from Garchen Rinpoche from the Drigar Thubten Dargye Ling tradition (Tibetan) and attended annual Om Mani Padme Hum and Om Ami Dewa Hrih retreats from 2015 till date. Currently, he is a disciple of Master Jin Bodhi (Mahayana) from Bodhi Meditation in Singapore and is an active volunteer there. Master Jin Bodhi is his main Dharma teacher. Jerome feels that Buddhism is not a religion but is a practical way to reduce our life's problems. The essence of Buddhism is not in the books or sutras but in the way we apply it into our lives. Having understood some aspects of Buddha's teaching, he wants to give back to the society and hopes to share his insights with everyone who has the affinity with him.
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