Episode 152 - Examining Attachment To Our Self

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Attachment to the self causes suffering, just as suffering invariably follows attachment to any object. In general, attachment arises when we perceive an object we find attractive and become fixated on it; we exaggerate its qualities until we become glued to the object, so that it is painful if we are separated from it. For example, attachment to self might arise as a fixed sense that we have a certain quantity, like intelligence. We are attached to being perceived as intelligence so that when someone slights our intelligence in some way, we feel pain and might become angry and defensive. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The following experiences come from attachment to our self:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">anxiety</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">feeling defensive </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">depression, self-loathing, guilt </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">pride </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">defense mechanisms</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A suggested mindfulness practice is to watch our mind for a week, attempting to notice when we experience any of the symptoms of attachment to self. Other ways to gain knowledge about your own attachment is to observe what triggered the attachment to arise. Or determine what exactly you're attached to in that moment. Observe any pain or problems this attachment causes. Discover what ways your attachment to self most often arises, In the next episode, we will explore ways to lessen the attachment to self that most often plagues you. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sorrow grows Like grass after rain </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For anyone overcome by