Attachments: How to Cut Those Strings

Attachments: How to Cut Those Strings

Attachment is something we constantly have to check as a yogi. Not only do we want to dissolve current attachments, but we want to make sure we don't create any new ones. The yogi has attractive qualities: strength, kindness, sweetness, gentleness, wisdom. These qualities attract others and attract praise. Praise is nice, it feels good. We like it, and we like having more of it. And so we then start getting into the sticky situation of developing relationships where we get praise of one sort or another. Sometimes just the existence of a relationship is praise in itself. "Wow, this person is as happy to be with me as I am to be with them. He must think I'm something special."

A good indication that attachment exists is sorrow. I recently disappointed a friend and felt so bad about it, although there was no intention to disappoint - it was just drama. But I got emotional about it. I would never want to disappoint my friend, how could he think of me in that light? Right there, I should have heard the warning bells of attachment.

Yes, we should not be careless and give sorrow. But likewise, we have to be sensible when drama flares up - am I to feel bad for something that was an unintentional mistake? Learn from it, yes, but then past is past. Yet, my concern over our friendship was what triggered my emotional outburst. I didn't want to risk losing the relationship. Attachment!

Praise also needs to be looked at. If I'm feeling good in someone's company, is it because the soul is receiving spiritual benefit? Or is it because this person makes me feel good about myself? The latter is a potential ego growing exercise - perhaps not the most spiritually beneficial!

Also, care is needed when cutting those attachments. Limited detachment allows us to run off to a remote destination cutting ourselves off from everyone. However, Baba teaches unlimited detachment, unlimited disinterest, where we live amongst those things, people, places for which we are practising detachment. And don't forget love. Our practice is to be loving and detached, not just detached.

So my question to you - what kinds of attachments have you faced and have you experienced success in achieving detachment? What methods have proved useful in achieving detachment? Would you share a successful experience? If you're having a difficult attachment, perhaps you could share it here and someone might be able to offer advice. There is the final detachment to be achieved, and that is breaking attachment to the body, or role. Is anyone currently working on this and what are your intense efforts?

I look forward to hearing from you. Om shanti.