Attachment: The Clinging Mind

The solidification of the self

The ego knows it is a fiction. It feels its own fragility. To convince itself it is real, it attaches itself to things.

It says, "This is my house. This is my reputation. This is my opinion."

By claiming ownership, the mind tries to give itself mass. It tries to become solid. It believes that if it accumulates enough attachments, it cannot be destroyed.

The source of anxiety

Attachment is the root of all loss anxiety.

You do not fear losing the object. You fear losing the piece of yourself you placed inside the object.

If you attach your identity to your money, a market crash feels like a physical amputation. If you attach your identity to your partner, a breakup feels like death. You have outsourced your existence to things that can be taken away.

The tightening grip

The more you attach, the more you fear. The more you fear, the tighter you grip.

You live in a state of constant defense, guarding your pile of attachments. You cannot enjoy them; you can only worry about keeping them. The things you own end up owning you.

The release

Freedom is not having nothing. Freedom is holding nothing.

You can have the house, the money, and the relationship. But you must hold them with an open hand. You must realize they are passing through you. They are scenery, not structure. When you retract your claws, you realize you are whole with or without them.

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