466. A New Self

In seeing our attachments to our intentions, we begin to break free of them. We recognize that we identify with certain desires, aversions, and beliefs, and we see how these attachments produce the suffering that we feel.

Our new awareness makes us unwilling to tolerate attachment. We now understand that it produces the many feelings of suffering that diminish our ability to live more joyfully. We recognize how these feelings take control of our attention and direct our actions towards placating suffering, which only produces more suffering.

We want to revolt against attachment in order to liberate ourselves from suffering. But we also see that our own identity is comprised of precisely the desires, aversions, and beliefs that we are most attached to. Any possible revolt against attachment can also feel like a revolt against the self.

If we continue to persist in loosening ourselves from our attachments, we gradually discover that our identity is not what we thought it was. The self is much lighter than before, because it is no longer burdened by weighty attachments. But the self is not lost, dissolved, or diminished. By emptying the self of attachment, it rejoins the world, and becomes much bigger than before.

Reunited with the world, we gradually realize our true identity. We begin to see not only the needs of others, but our own deepest needs, which were previously hidden by our attachments. Seeing this incredible need, and taking action to meet it, we experience greater fulfillment than ever before.

The treasure we discover through our efforts to meet need is the endless bounty of joy. It is the very possibility of joy in every moment of life that allows us to trust our new unity with the world. We see that it is in emptiness that we achieve fullness, and with greater compassion that we attain greater joy.