Giving Up The Past
Giving up the past
is giving up attachments,
giving up karma.
First, we have to become aware of the effect that the past has on us now. Are we stubborn? There are many things that we may regret, and cannot put right. Let them go. Likewise, there may be things we enjoyed but still, we must let them go. We can be mindful of the past, but it shouldn’t dominate the present moment. Giving up the past is part of transcending the levels or yanas.
Don’t fight it; move on.
If we don’t give up ideas of the past, they become luggage that carries more of the same attitude. Our attitude is our karma, our programming that made us the way we are; a release is needed in order to move on. We may feel that we have nothing in common with those we knew, which is both sad and liberating.
The moment when we recognise this, we may feel uncomfortable. There is a conflict with the past and the present, as the old brain is still in history mode of our ‘normal’.
Gradually, by living with dropping it, we become free. We’ve finally worn out the old me that was holding back our naturalness, energy and intelligence.
Wisdom is our naturalness outside the programme,
which others may find uncomfortable.
🙂
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts. 
Nothing in common with those we knew…YES, and even more so, not much in common with how I myself was years ago. Past has always felt unreal to me, I retain factual memories but from an early age, I understood that emotional baggage of past is a burden not worth carrying. But I still struggle with fears about future…despite understanding clearly at some level that they are not very different.
My understanding must be incomplete, for I feel I am quite free of past, but still not free of the concerns about future. But it is not mortality or death of the body that is the root of my fears. It is fear for the vulnerabilities while the body is still alive.
Thank you for your words of wisdom🙏🏼
Hello Ramble,
I know this will sound trite, but, all we have is now. We reach point where whatever happens could be the boost we need, or the last straw.
Jesus and Buddha both had to face temptation. Socrates just took the poison after being convicted of influencing the youth.
Milarepa ate the poison curds given to him.
We aren’t famous, we just have to put up with the madness and fear surrounding us all.
Evil can never totally win – it’s self defeating.:-)
Tony
I see what you mean. Thanks!