Being aware of the emptiness of all five skandhas, having embraced all aspects of our being, and knowing that we have inside ourselves all that we need to be at peace and happy, and having formed the intent to not allow anything to disturb that peace and happiness, we find that we are free of our cravings. All internal struggle is gone. There is nothing outside us that we seek.
Now there are two things to be aware of. The one is that it's possible that as you've worked the previous steps, they have not arisen from within, from your heart, but more intellectually. In that case, our inner struggles are still very active but you have a powerful tool to set them aside.
The other is that even if you have worked these steps from your heart, your ego-mind is still part of you and it will look for moments of weakness to assert itself. So one still has to be on guard. Even the Buddha was frequently approached by Mara, his tempter, to pull him from the path.
The powerful tool that allows you to set aside any cravings, any emotions, judgments, or attachments is always have at the forefront your intent to not allow anything to disturb your peace and happiness; that is what you value most. If you experience anything that agitates you, disturbs you, that is a red flag to stop and take a breath.
In the battle of light v darkness, the heart v the ego-mind, it is your responsibility to test all guidance that you receive. Regardless how strong the craving or emotion, regardless how noble or warranted it may seem, it is your responsibility to say "no" to anything that disturbs your peace and happiness.
As you know from my post, "How to Desire Yet Not Crave," two things are possible. Either the action you were taking or contemplating was an unskillful desire, not consistent with the Five Precepts, in which case you need to stop it. Or the action is in and of itself skillful ... like helping someone or trying to find a friend ... but you are approaching it from a lack of equanimity and so you need to find a way of grounding the action in equanimity. Remember, nothing is more important to you than your peace and happiness,
Walking the path is an incremental process. And your ego-mind will always be a part of you. Do not be dismayed. You are in good company, The important thing is to continue to walk the path with as much discipline as your can muster.
Now there are two things to be aware of. The one is that it's possible that as you've worked the previous steps, they have not arisen from within, from your heart, but more intellectually. In that case, our inner struggles are still very active but you have a powerful tool to set them aside.
The other is that even if you have worked these steps from your heart, your ego-mind is still part of you and it will look for moments of weakness to assert itself. So one still has to be on guard. Even the Buddha was frequently approached by Mara, his tempter, to pull him from the path.
The powerful tool that allows you to set aside any cravings, any emotions, judgments, or attachments is always have at the forefront your intent to not allow anything to disturb your peace and happiness; that is what you value most. If you experience anything that agitates you, disturbs you, that is a red flag to stop and take a breath.
In the battle of light v darkness, the heart v the ego-mind, it is your responsibility to test all guidance that you receive. Regardless how strong the craving or emotion, regardless how noble or warranted it may seem, it is your responsibility to say "no" to anything that disturbs your peace and happiness.
As you know from my post, "How to Desire Yet Not Crave," two things are possible. Either the action you were taking or contemplating was an unskillful desire, not consistent with the Five Precepts, in which case you need to stop it. Or the action is in and of itself skillful ... like helping someone or trying to find a friend ... but you are approaching it from a lack of equanimity and so you need to find a way of grounding the action in equanimity. Remember, nothing is more important to you than your peace and happiness,
Walking the path is an incremental process. And your ego-mind will always be a part of you. Do not be dismayed. You are in good company, The important thing is to continue to walk the path with as much discipline as your can muster.
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