Simply This Moment - Buddhist Meditation and Theravada ...

5 DETACHMENT5 th April 2000When we discuss the teachings of Buddhism we talk a lot about attachments. This isa word that is often misunderstood and misused by many Buddhists. If we don’tunderstand what the word means we can get into a lot of trouble and experienceconfusion. The opposite of attachment is easier to understand it is called ‘letting go’.We always know when letting go is happening because things disappear. We don’tknow when attachment happens because most of the time we can’t see it. The natureof delusion, the core problem of human beings, is to blind us. Delusion or illusion ifyou like, is called avijjā in Pāli and that delusion and lack of enlightenment issomething that we can’t see. It’s a blind spot inside us, but we don’t know we areblind!The Road to SufferingThe big problem of avijjā or delusion is that a person who is deluded always thinksthey are right. That is the reason there are so many different ideas and opinions in thisworld. We can’t see that that is not the correct way to look at things. However, thereis one way that we can find out what delusion is. Delusion is that which leads tosuffering. It’s that which leads to problems and difficulties. Wisdom is that whichleads to the end of suffering and difficulties. In the same way, attachment – which isthe result of delusion – is that which causes suffering, pain and difficulty in our lives.It’s detachment and letting go that frees us and leads to us to happiness, peace andcontentment. This is the best way to understand the meaning of these terms. Ifwhatever is happening in our life is causing suffering or discomfort, it’s because of alack of contentment; contentment, which is there for the taking. It means that we’renot seeing something. We need to have at least enough wisdom and faith to challengeourselves.So often, it’s the sense of self, the sense of ego, the sense of pride born of that ego;which feeds the delusion, ‘I can’t be wrong, I’m right.’ ‘No one else understands,only me.’ It’s one’s ‘self’ that feeds the attachments. ‘This is right.’ ‘This is what Iwant to do.’ ‘This is the correct way.’ ‘This is the right idea.’ This delusion isattachment to views. So often we just can’t see that, because we think we have the66