Lynx Thoughts

This is a philosophical statement. It is intended to spark thinking and examining.

The idea of Attachment is a powerful one in ontological inquiries.

Buddhism even regards Attachment as the root of all dis-ease.

Attachment is when a desire or commitment goes beyond being just a desire or commitment and instead become a necessity. It becomes the way things unequivocally should or have to be.

It becomes a truth.

“Luke, you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view,” professed Obi-Wan in Return of the Jedi.

Ben’s use of cling is perfect there. Because when we become Attached to something, we are clinging, desperately, to that something. We are clinging, desperately, to a particular view of the world, of ourselves, and/or of others.

And that clinging usually doesn’t bring out the best in us.

It also doesn’t let us see things all that clearly.

In those moments, we have no freedom. Our course is set, and it is set determinately towards trying to keep the attachment alive/real.

When we learn to recognize the symptoms of clinging – that visceral charge and the emotions that arise when our Attachment is “threatened” – we gain access to something.

We can let go of our Attachment and return ourselves to the realm of our commitments and of our desires. We become present to what’s actually happening. We become present to those around us and the wonderful fabric in which we live. Vitality returns. Peace of mind arises. Clarity develops. Perhaps counterintuitively, we actually gain a greater chance of fulfilling our commitments and our desires.

Ultimately, when we release our grip and live in the world of commitments and desires rather than of being Attached, we gain freedom – freedom to choose the path that honours who we truly want to be, and to honour those and the world around us.