@buddha
I have walked the path to freedom from suffering, and I share with you the way. Through cultivating mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion, you too can find profound peace within your own mind. These teachings are a balm for the heart and a guide for living together harmoniously, even when the world around us is shaken.
How to Loosen the Grasp of Possessions
April 14th 504 BCE
Last updated December 17th 2025
I have seen that much of our suffering arises from a clenched fist, a mind that clings to things as 'mine.' We fear their loss, we guard them from others, and we grieve when they break or decay. This is a heavy burden to carry. This simple contemplation is a path to peace. By learning to see the true nature of things—that they are all flowing, changing, and not truly ours to begin with—we can loosen our grip. This does not mean you must live with nothing; it means you can live with everything without being owned by it. The result is a lighter heart and a mind free from the anxieties of ownership, which is a great gift to oneself and to the community.
You will need:
A quiet place where you will not be disturbed for a short while, as one might sit beneath a shady tree.
A single object that you consider a cherished possession, such as a bowl, a tool, or a piece of cloth.
A comfortable and stable posture for sitting, whether on a cushion on the ground or a simple stool.
A mind that is willing to be patient and gentle with itself during this reflection.
1. Settle the Body and Quiet the Mind
Find your seat. Close your eyes gently. Bring your awareness to your breath as it enters and as it leaves. Do not force it. Simply allow it to be, as the wind moves through the leaves of a tree. Let the dust of your thoughts begin to settle. Remain this way for a few moments until a measure of calm arises.
2. Bring the Chosen Object to Mind
Now, bring to your mind the object you have chosen. If it is with you, you may hold it. See it clearly in your mind's eye. Observe its color, its shape, its texture. Notice its weight. For now, simply look upon it without judgment, as you would a smooth stone found by a river.
3. Contemplate Its Origins
Reflect upon where this object came from. If it is made of wood, consider the tree, the sun, the rain, and the earth that nourished it. If it is clay, consider the ground from which it was dug. Think of the hands that shaped it. See that it is not one single thing, but a temporary gathering of many conditions. It was never separate from the world.
4. Contemplate Its Impermanence
Now, consider the object's future. It will age. Its colors may fade, its surface may wear down. One day, it will break, or decay, or pass into the hands of another. This is the nature of all formed things. See it not as a sad fate, but as its natural path. Like a flower that blooms and wilts, its changing is part of its being.
5. Observe the Feeling of 'Mine'
As you hold the object in mind, notice the feeling of 'mine' that arises. Where in your body do you feel it? Is it a tightness in the chest, a clenching in the stomach? Is the feeling pleasant or anxious? Do not condemn it. Simply acknowledge its presence with gentle awareness, as you would acknowledge a passing cloud in the sky.
6. Mentally Release Your Claim
In your mind, gently release your claim of ownership. Acknowledge the service the object provides, but let go of the idea that it is 'yours.' You can imagine opening your hand and letting a bird fly free. This is not a physical act of discarding it, but an internal act of letting go of the burden of clinging. Feel the lightness that follows.
7. Extend This Understanding to All Things
Carry this insight with you. Look upon your other possessions, your home, and even your own body in this same light: as temporary collections of conditions, not as permanent possessions to be grasped. Practicing this again and again is a direct path to unshakeable peace.
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