A student gave me feedback and said, "I feel that my mind is getting tense again, and I don't have the relaxed feeling before. What should I do?"
In fact, when we practice " Breathing Method", sitting quietly will make Our hearts settle. But if you do not maintain equanimity during this process, then as the state naturally fluctuates, your heart will still return to the previous emotional reaction pattern. Just like the question asked by the student above. Note: For the anapana method, please refer to the book "Emotional Self-Healing"
What is equanimity? It is a mind that is not attached or entangled. From a small scope in practice, it is a mind that is not delusional or judgmental.
If we use the terminology of Buddhism , it can be understood that there is no heart of "greed, anger, and ignorance".
Many people think that "greed, hatred, and delusion" are three relatively independent things. In fact, they accompany each other. As long as you have greed, there will be rejection (anger), and the reason why you have greed is basically delusion.
So, if someone asks you to let go of your anger, you can understand. Because it makes you feel angry, agitated, and troubled. But in fact, many people don’t know that if you want to let go of hatred, you must let go of greed. Because as long as there is greed, there will inevitably be anger. In other words, as long as someone wants it, there will always be someone who rejects it and doesn't want it.
The question asked by the previous student is actually because he did not maintain equanimity at that moment, and a desire for relaxation arose in his heart, but he was not aware of it, so he made himself full of troubles at that moment.
This problem has also been encountered by many friends.
It is easier for everyone to detect anger because it makes them very uncomfortable. But it is difficult to be aware of greed, because greed makes people feel comfortable and enjoy it, so they are not aware of the current physical and mental state, and are in a state of insanity.
This is why, for ordinary people, it is difficult for them to understand the troubles of friends such as anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Because the essence of those troubles is the manifestation of the degree of "greed, anger, and ignorance" in the heart. There is no physical manifestation in the outside world, so it is difficult for others to understand.
Of course, this does not mean that ordinary people have no worries. It's just that the degree is different.
The book "Emotional Self-Help" mentions that most people with depression , anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are not born with it. Rather, it is formed the day after tomorrow through various factors such as family, school, and society.
So there is a saying: Happy people use their childhood to heal their lives, while unfortunate people use their lives to heal their childhood.
Although you may feel a little helpless, there is no need to feel sad, because "a blessing in disguise is a blessing in disguise"!
Many people don't have problems now, but that doesn't mean there are no problems. Our current situation, from another perspective, is also a kind of luck, because God never treats a person badly. Every step you take counts. When you get rid of these worries, what else can't you do?
And it is true that many of our students, when they really come out, they often report that they see the world differently.
In fact, the world has not changed, but our hearts are brighter than before!
So, as long as you maintain awareness and equanimity in the present moment, healing is right before your eyes!
Finally, I recommend that friends who are depressed, anxious, or obsessive read two books, "Emotional Self-Help" and "You Are Your Own Psychiatrist." Friends who want to adjust themselves must read these two books. They will be helpful to you. Very helpful.
