From: lyeh@alleg.edu (Hun Lye)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: The joy of "letting go" according to Buddhism ...4
Keywords: "Becoming" enlightened
Date: 16 Oct 92 01:36:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: ogicse.44227
Distribution: world
Organization: Allegheny College


	I remember that when I was small I wanted to *become* "one of  
those big guys."  I used to think how cool it would be to be a high school  
kid.  When I finally got to high school, I wanted to *become* a college  
student - wow...that should be the best....  And then college came and  
what next - I want to *become* one of those working guys out there!
	When I started getting interested in spirituality, I wanted to  
become "self-realised", to *become* "one with God" or when I started  
testing out Buddhism - I wanted to *become* enlightened!  However, is this  
how we should think?  Is this the right way to relate to things?  How  
healthy is this constant desire to *become*?  
	Very often we are so obssessed with the idea or wish of *becoming*  
that we forget what we should actually be doing.  This becomes especially  
true when we look at spiritual cultivation.  So many people go into  
practice to *become* this and *become* that.  It is of course normal and  
fine to begin something with a desire to want to *become*.  The reason why  
we even start to practice is because we want to become free from duhkha.   
This is indeed very valid.  Later, we might want to view our practice as  
not only for ourselves but also for the welfare of others.  This is also  
very valid.  No problems.  But very often we again set traps for  
ourselves.  These kinds of traps are even more dangerous than other kinds  
because these traps can often be "justified" by "religion".  
	It is impossible to truly practice if we are constantly wanting to  
become.  It takes the focus out of what we should be truly doing.  You  
will find that when you meditate, the more you try to become free from  
wandering thoughts, the more the thoughts would trample all over the place  
like a mad elephant - crusing and destroying everything.  The more you  
want to become enlightened, the further youy see to be moving away from  
it.  This is because of the sickness of wanting to *become*.  The Buddha  
taught us that *becoming* is duhkha.  No matter what you want to *become*   
only more duhkha is produced.  Now, instead of meditating we are  
projecting our hopes and ambitions into the practice.  We want to *become*  
enlightened.  We want to *become* a great teacher that can "save" everyone  
else.  Become, become, become and that's all that we are truly doing.  And  
duhkha, duhkha and more duhkha is what we get.
	Enlightenment does not involve *becoming* because what *becomes*  
must cease as well.  Sarva dharma anitya - "all things are impermanent."   
That which have the nature to arise will have the nature to cease.  What  
*becomes* must cease.  Therefore, enlightenment has nothing to do with  
*becoming*.  Enlightenment is rest, peace and calmness while *becoming* is  
duhkha.  
	Quit occupying our minds with thoughts or desires of *becoming*.   
Do not sit on the meditation mat thinking "when will I *become*  
enlightened?"  If you do that you are not meditating, you are "becoming"  
and that leads to duhkha.  Just be aware of the nature of all things - the  
constant arising and ceasing.  Just contemplate of the non-self nature of  
all phenomena and rest in that simplicity.  When thoughts of *becoming*  
creep up, do not try to *become* free from them.  Just note them arising  
and ceasing.  You don't have to fear these thoughts or desires on  
*becoming*.  Just learn how to recognize them.  The moment you recognize  
them, you will understand that there is no point in trying to get rid of  
anything of to acquire anything.  Why?  Because they are essentially  
impermanent and non-self.  They have no real existence so that either  
becoming attached to them or hate them is an absurdity.  It is disturbing  
to the mind.  The nature of the mind is calm and silent.  When you  
recognize the nature of all phenomena as empty and impermanent, you won't  
let them bug you.  You easily rest in simplicity.  You rest in the calm,  
expansive, luminous amd humorous nature of your mind.  but the minute you  
let ideas and desires of *becoming* take charge, you fall into your own  
trap again.  Recognize the true nature of phenomena and that's when you  
will truly rest.  Stop *becoming* and just *be*!



This is the fourth in the series.  Comments, questions, and any other  
kinds of feedback welcome.  This is written based on my own experience and  
the teachings received from various teachers of the Buddhist tradition.   
This series is NOT for discussion on Buddhist philosophy or metaphysics.   
It is posted with the hope that it will be of help to some people.  If it  
is, I'm happy to be able to help.  If it is not, I apologize for it.  The  
next topic in this series will probably be about the place of tradition in  
practice.  I know this is a hotly debated topic in this  
soc.religion.eastern part (especially with regards to the Guru-disciple  
question) and I hope this forthcoming topic in the series will not lead to 
that.  This series is meant for "letting go" - not "holding on"!  Be  
happy!  

--
lyeh@alleg.edu (Hun Lye)