Let it Go, Let it go!

Everything in our known physical universe is a victim of impermanence. In this world of form, nothing lasts forever, and change is the only constant. The philosophy of non-attachment as a path to inner peace arises from this truth.

Tibetan Monks have a tradition of creating beautiful, impossibly intricate mandalas which take days to create, only to destroy them almost immediately upon completion. They do this to demonstrate impermanence and as a practice in non-attachment.

Attachment to things and to people, to places and ideologies, to life situations - these are the causes of much (some would argue all) of our suffering.

The more we become attached to things, the more we have to lose, and the more painful the eventual loss. When we learn to appreciate things without attachment in the present moment, the pain and suffering of loss dissipates as we realize we had to lose in the first place.

Non-attachment does not mean not being able to love something or appreciate it. On the contrary, it means loving and appreciating something fully in the present moment, and to accept things as they are. Once that moment passes, we must let it go and move on to the next moment in that appreciation and acceptance.

We can get attached to our life situations - past, present, or future. Getting attached to any stage of life keeps us from evolving, from moving forward into the present moment. Attachment causes regret (of the past), pain (of losing the present), and anxiety or worry (of the future). Further, becoming attached to a certain life situation impedes our personal and spiritual growth. It's like tying ourselves to a post we find along our path. In order to move forward, we must be ready and willing to cut the ties to our past and take the next step on our respectful paths.

Becoming attached to people is also a cause of suffering. This does not mean that we should not love and appreciate people, but that we should do so fully in the present moment.

If you see a beautiful flower, appreciate it as it is. Don't pick it so that you can bring it with you, because in the moment of picking it, it ceases to exist. It's as my good friend Andreya said: "I think non attachment is a less selfish way of loving someone. You love them for them - not because you're attached and you need them."

To immerse ourselves fully in the experience of now, and learn to let go of the moment as it passes. Living in this way will lessen pain and suffering, and allow us to grow, evolve, and transcend ourselves with the least amount of resistance.