The desire for liberation can be a wholesome force in our lives when it is held with wisdom. Looking at ways we can support this motivation helps to call forth heroic or courageous energy.
Our conditioning to resist pain creates trance—we become identified as a small, victimized, threatened self. We have the capacity, through mindful, kind attention, to discover genuine freedom in the midst of pain.
The second foundation of mindfulness is the awareness of pleasant, painful, and neutral feeling. Awareness of the texture of our experiences brings liberation.
Just as seeing-eye dogs (Carrot is one), our minds need training in order to become our guides and allies. To meditate is to train the mind to be insightful, to become a seeing-eye mind.
The bodhisattva path arises out of a love for life. We awaken this love as we realize our belonging to our inner life, each other and the natual world.
In his teachings on dependent origination found in the Upanisa Sutta of the Samyutta Nikaya, the Buddha explained the path in such positive terms as joy, rapture, tranquillity, and happiness.
When we understand that our happiness and unhappiness depends on our actions, then we can act with intentions that are loving and generous. This is what brings about the happiness we long for.
Metta practice works it's magic by reflecting back our momentary experience so we can see where we are still holding. Embracing these parts of ourselves leads us to the boundless heart of metta.
