u/AwakenTheWisdom

I’ve contemplated this question a year or so ago. Here’s what I got:

() Sakkaya Ditthi - The understanding that existence is not in your control. The understanding that there’s a lack of ownership and permanence of phenomena.

() Asmimāna - The understanding that there’s no being “doing” something. It’s the understanding that there’s just phenomena taking place. There’s just biofeedback. There’s no being making intentions and doing actions. In other words, there’s no ego.

What do you say?

I’ve contemplated this question a year or so ago: Here’s what I got:

() Sakkaya Ditthi - The understanding that existence is not in your control. The understanding that there’s a lack of ownership and permanence of phenomena.

() Asmimāna - The understanding that there’s no being “doing” something. It’s the understanding that there’s just phenomena taking place. There’s just biofeedback. There’s no being making intentions and doing actions. In other words, there’s no ego.

What do you say?

~ Mahārāhulovādasutta

Rahula, develop the cultivation of loving-kindness. For, Rahula, for you—cultivating the cultivation of loving-kindness—whatever ill will, that will be abandoned.

Traditionally, Mettā is taught where you focus directly on Mettā itself; radiating it to your loved ones first and then to those that you’re averse to. However, does that really work?

You naturally radiate Mettā to your loved ones because there’s no hatred towards them. As a result, Mettā naturally arises. But what happens when you start focusing on those you hate; radiating Metta to them. Wouldn’t that be creating/engineering the feeling and effect rather than letting Mettā naturally arise?

In truth, to truly cultivate the cultivation of Mettā, you must cultivate non-hatred. Doing that, Mettā naturally arises. This approach is held by Hillside Hermitage, and Sayadaw U Tejaniya, and it’s the approach that makes the absolute sense.

In my Uposatha observance today, I’ve gained insight into the differences between Extreme Penances, and the Middle Way, and why one doesn’t lead to liberation, and the other one does.

Extreme Penances: Starvation of mind. Assumption of control. Supports the suppression of mind. Doesn’t support the cooling/extinguishment of the mind. Doesn’t lead to liberation.

The Middle Way: Doesn’t starve the mind. Doesn’t assume control. Removal of the mind from the sensual domain. Removal of fuel and nutriment. Eventually cooling of the mind. Leads to liberation.