380. Looking For Freedom

When I see something disturbing, I immediately want to look away. Sometimes I want to look away because it’s too painful to see what I’m seeing. Sometimes I don’t want to look because I don’t like what it means — difficult changes will be necessary and I don’t want to change. And sometimes I look away just because I know what I’m seeing requires a great deal of attention and I’d much rather look at something else.

In every case, my attention is prevented from being allowed to see more. This is a terrible mistake, because it stops me from reaching the understanding I need, and by ignoring this need, I guarantee further suffering for myself and others. Instead of regularly feeling joy, I will experience it only rarely before I’m sent back to the misery of suffering.

If I could instead interrupt the urge to look away, my attention would be able see what it needs to see, even if it makes me uncomfortable. This is highly beneficial because the problem of awareness — and the problem of suffering itself — is solved through nothing other than attention. If I allow myself to keep looking, not just at this one thing but at everything, the conditions for freedom from suffering will begin to establish themselves in me. I’ll gain the opportunity and the motivation to release myself from my attachments and from the cycle of suffering.

Awareness of the nature of suffering and its connection to particular intentions like desire is all that I need to break free. When I can see this fully and clearly, I will no longer allow myself to be manipulated into contributing to the perpetuation of suffering. I will instead act to eliminate suffering, to reduce unnecessary pain, and to meet the many needs that must be met to create a more loving and joyful world.