29. Clinging

Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.
If, in our heart, we still cling to anything
—anger, anxiety, people or possessions—
we cannot be free.
Thich Nhat Hanh

This morning I was reflecting on the Ascension of Jesus as recorded in Acts 1:8-9. I wondered how the disciples felt watching him leave again. They would have been heart-broken watching him die on the cross – followed by their unbelievable joy and excitement he was still with them in the resurrection appearances. Now, they watch him go for good. Mary Magdalene had already been told by Jesus 'Do not hold onto me!' (John 20:17). While I sympathise with the disciple's desire to cling to Jesus, it wasn't to be. But as I read Church history, the Church still seeks to cling to Jesus, which reminds me of a Buddhist story:

A Buddhist nun once asked a wise Teacher if he could help her understand something she had read in their scriptures. It had puzzled her for many years. The teacher asked her to read it to him because he had never learnt to read. The nun was taken back and wondered how he hoped to understand the meaning if he could not read the words? To which the teacher replied:
'The Truth has nothing to do with words. Truth can be likened to the bright moon in the sky. Words, in this case, can be likened to a finger. The finger can point to the moon’s location. However, the finger is not the moon. To look at the moon it is necessary to gaze beyond the finger'.1

Jesus was a finger who pointed us to the Eternal mystery of the One we call God. He also pointed the 'Way'. The way for us to follow, and the way for us to live, to be and to become. To cling to Jesus and see him as the summit of our faith misses the point of his life. We have to learn to let go of everything we cling to in our search for meaning and purpose; emptying ourselves completely, if we wish to discover and delight in the Divine Presence of God. Or as one Meditation Teacher suggests:

'You need to start living life with open palms.
You tried to grasp onto the good times you had, and the experience has gone.
But any challenges you have now will also go,
you just need to hold onto them softly,
with open palms'.2

Jesus reminded us of this truth in the Beatitudes. For example, he asked us not to 'store up treasures here on earth' because 'where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.' (Matt 6:19-21) Such open-handed living is found in the spirit of generosity (Matt 6:2-4; 5:42); foregoing retaliation (Matt 5:38-41), anxiety (Matt 6:25-32), and judgement of others (Matt 7:1-5). In so doing our life and actions become a light in a darkened world that risks losing its way with a 'Me-First' mentality. The Psychologist, Ronald Riggio predicts such an attitude will make it difficult for people to recognize the plight of others who are less fortunate, or a willingness to embrace self-sacrifice for the collective good.3

We are certainly being challenged with all these things as we live through the current Covet crisis. Although, the Gospel values that Jesus mentioned above, are apparent in the way many people are responding.

Kia mau te rongo me te pai ki a koe i to haerenga

May you find peace and goodwill on your journey.

Phil.

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1. See http://www.khandro.net/Bud_paths_Zen_2.htm Accessed 3/9/16.

2.. https://tinybuddha.com/blog/what-it-means-to-live-life-with-open-palms-and-how-this-sets-us-free/ Accessed 5/8/20.

3. See https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201707/are-we-all-becoming-more-self-centered Accessed 5/8/20.