Releasing All Grasping is the Path

"Grasping can be divided in two types: grasping oneself and grasping objects. Grasping oneself is when we hold on to our own sense of self, which is also referred to as ego-clinging. Grasping objects is when we hold on to any objects or belongings related to the self. Grasping objects is more general, while grasping oneself is more specific or personal. Whether we cling to ourself or to others—to the subject or the object—it’s still grasping. Grasping is grasping. According to Buddhist philosophy, grasping is what we have to release and remove.

The moment you remove grasping at self and others, you experience the dawn of joy, happiness, and peace—you’re no longer struggling all the time. Whoever has a level of realization that is free from grasping doesn’t see samsara as a land of misery and suffering. When you realize the selfless state of both ego and object, you understand that samsara is a playground where we can learn and grow, and eventually samsara will transform into nirvana. The nature of samsara and nirvana is the same. With this realization, working with duality and grasping becomes an incredible opportunity to grow.

...These two types of continual grasping go against the true nature, which is perfect equanimity. The nature is calm and very flexible; it is openness, freedom, and great emptiness, and grasping goes totally against this. Grasping is unrealistic because it’s the opposite of what’s really happening. Even if we want to think that grasping is great, the moment we grasp and cling to something, we’re moving against the flow of the true nature. Therefore, as much as we grasp and cling to self and others is how much we suffer, because we’re pushing against the true nature. So it’s really necessary and important to try to release our grasping tendency—this is the purpose of all the teachings of the Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava."

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Venerable Khenpo Rinpoche

Essential Journey of Life and Death: Volume 2

Using Dream Yoga and Phowa as the Path

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