Clinging

Last week we focused on gratitude. This week let's take a look at our clinging---our grasping at things or for people, places, and ideas.  The Buddha teaches us that it is our relentless craving, clinging, and grasping that is at the root of our dissatisfaction with life.  Everything that causes us pain and distress comes from this drive to hold on and make the things, the people, the places, and the ideas remain as they are or as we want them to be---forever.  We forget that they won't.  Everything starts to end the moment it comes into existence.  Each and every moment rises and fades in an instant.  Nothing is permanent.  If we can understand this and really take it in, then we are on our way to ending our pain and distress.  It is not easy to experience.  It is contrary to everything our ego wants.  Yet, if we truly want to be free of our pain, distress, and sorrow we must come to grips with the impermanence of everything.  So today, focus on just one person, place, thing, or idea and let yourself go with the notion that whatever you choose to focus on cannot last forever; it is when it is and then it is gone.  What choices will then you make about that person, place, thing, or idea?  What choices do make with regard to yourself?  Remember, all you ever have is "just this" and nothing more.  That is today's truth---"just this".