Unexpected Freedom

Unexpected Freedomnature of the ocean. Likewise a desire passing through themind does not define the mind. If we have seen this, if wehave inhibited our tendency to follow our preferences forlong enough to see through the way desire arises and passesaway, then we have a much freer perspective on preferences.Whether toast and honey or fermented fish turns up forbreakfast, whether this is agreeable or disagreeable to one’sbodily preferences, the heart will not become elated ordepressed. That’s the important principle: that we are able tosee through our preferences so that the heart remains free. Ifwe understand and accept this principle then we can bewilling to endure whatever is disagreeable to us. We won’talways look for life to be agreeable. We won’t say, ‘I had areally good meditation,’ just because it felt pleasant. I oftenhear people asking, ‘how was your meditation?’ Their friendthen replies something like, ‘hopeless, really terrible.’ If I askthem, ‘what was hopeless about it?’ they say, ‘Well, the mindwouldn’t settle. There were no peaceful feelings, no clarity.’And I ask, ‘Did you know that it wasn’t peaceful? Did you knowthat there wasn’t any clarity?’ Then they say, ‘Yes, I knew.’So what makes such a meditation terrible? Only that it didn’tagree with their preferences. If someone says to me, ‘Themeditation was very good, the body alert and energetic, themind bright and clear. My practice is going really well,’ whatthey usually mean is that it agreed with their preference.TrainingTraining involves a conscious willingness to go against ourpreferences. It does not mean merely upholding aphilosophical opinion that gratifying our desires is wrong.This would be only a conceptual approach to training.Training means discovering a willingness to go against our116