When the Buddha was asked what causes death, he said “Birth causes death. “
As stated in yesterday’s blog, if there are more than two causes to any effect, we lose track of what causes what. Links in the chain of causation often lead to suffering.
When we come into contact with sense objects, and see, hear, touch, smell, feel etc. we neither experience pleasant or unpleasant reactions.
When experiencing pleasant feelings without mindfulness, desire is the next link on the chain, leading to craving, attraction, attachment, which are all causes of suffering.
Learning To Be in any experience is the antidote for attraction to the pleasant and aversion to the unpleasant. Equanimity is another way of saying Learning To Be in the moment, in the here and now with the recognition that all things do pass.
When mindful of what is perceived as pleasant or unpleasant, and simply noticing our experience of mindful observation, then wanting, craving, and clinging to that which is noticed - disappears.
This is the key to liberation in the chain of causation. Yes, we are conditioned to react and to cling, and as Ram Dass says, to become Somebody. These conditions need to be broken if we wish to be free.
These practices prepare for the journey of death in this lifetime. They lessen our hold on a life well lived, if we choose to see our lives that way, without excuses or apology.
Apology to others is also a good practice to free our hold on suffering. OM
