Excellent talk by Ajahn Brahm where he discusses the four ways of letting go, as expounded by the Buddha.
The four ways are:
- Throw it away
- Be content
- Give expecting nothing in return
- Have a teflon mind
Truly insightful, with lots of little anecdotes, stories and metaphors to help convey the understanding.
Throw it away – things are only heavy when we are carrying them; by ceasing our preoccupation with our beliefs, identity, etc we are able to free ourselves from their constraints, which often do more to take away from our peace than add to it.
Be content – Want to be where you are. It’s only a prison if you are trying to get away from it, and it’s amazing the kinds of prisons we can devise in our mind. By being content with our present circumstances, by embracing where we are now, and wanting to be there, we open the doors to peace and freedom.
Give expecting nothing in return – When we give expecting something back, we are making our happiness conditional on our expectations. When we give expecting nothing in return, we experience happiness through our giving, regardless of what outcomes may arise. It is truly a joy to work to benefit others; we tend to get much more caught up in expectations regarding outcomes when we are working only to benefit ourselves. By giving expecting nothing in return, we let go of our expectations, and allow ourselves to experience the joy and peace associated with the act of giving itself.
Have a teflon mind – Allow nothing to stick to your mind. “Never allow your knowledge to get in the way of truth.” Attachment and expectations about the world tend to creep in the more learned and experienced we become. Having a teflon mind means not letting preconceptions stick to it and colour your view. It means maintaining a continuous openness to existence, a receptiveness to learn and a take a view that is wider than our current knowledge. Echoes ideas of socratic wisdom – it is often the people who know the most who have the hardest time seeing things as they are. Hubris is humankind’s greatest obstacle to overcome.