Acceptance and Non-Attachment Lead to Freedom of the Mind

Photo by Manuel Torres Garcia on Unsplash

“I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind.“ — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Does democracy imply freedom or is there more to the idea of being free? Is it enough to be free in an existential context or does being free from internal turmoil matter?

At an individual level, freedom of movement, thought, choice, and speech are priceless. Think about how dreadful it would be if you were monitored every moment, restrained in any way, or needed permission to do or say anything!

Then there are those many moments when we adamantly hold on to our position even when people, facts, and situations prove us wrong. Aren’t we then held captive by our own insecurities, thoughts, feelings, emotions, and beliefs? Why are we so adamant anyway?

What about the times when thoughts rush through your mind creating narratives of fear, failure, and negativity? Are we truly free in such moments?

“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts “- Lord Buddha

Freedom of the Mind

A mind that is free resembles the feeling of climbing to the top of a mountain and watching the magnificence all around — vast, open, quiet, and peaceful, as though everything is just as it should be.

In order to experience this freedom and truly feel the magnificence of life, we need to learn to let go, accept what is, and surrender to life.

1. Letting go — the need to be right, the need to hold on to people, memories, and places, the need to judge, and any expectations and desires.
2. Accepting what is just as it is. Giving up the need to control anything or anybody.
3. Trusting life and allowing it to unfold as it is meant to be.

The 6 Enemies of the Mind

The ancient practices of Hinduism and Buddhism refer to the six enemies of the mind — desire or lust, anger, greed, arrogance or pride or conceit, attachment or delusion and jealousy. We often get caught up in these emotions and they are the root cause of all suffering.

As human beings, we all have wants and desires. And in our quest to fulfill them, we undertake actions. Actions undertaken with the expectation of a particular outcome if fulfilled, lead to temporary happiness and if unfulfilled create a sense of disappointment. Disappointment usually leads us to experience one or more of the six enemies of the mind.

And that’s how easy it is to get caught up in the vicious cycle of the mind. Uninterrupted and unnoticed, the mind keeps spinning this cycle and we get trapped in it.

Let’s consider an example. I am a hard-working, diligent student who wants to attend one of the competitive programs in the country. I work hard with the conviction that I am laying the groundwork to fulfill my desire.

Once the application deadlines are over, I wait anxiously to hear back. I am hopeful and optimistic that I will be accepted by a handful of the colleges. But what if the acceptance deadlines are over and I still haven’t heard anything from anywhere?

Of course, I am shattered! But is that all?

As the reality sinks in, my mind tells me how I’ve been such a good student- much better than others (pride); reminds me of all the sacrifices I made to stay focused; creates narratives of all the other students in my class who were accepted (jealousy), and I end up blaming others and the colleges for their policies (anger).

In one instance, I have been taken over by at least three of the six enemies of the mind.

This thought process is not productive and it doesn’t help me in the situation. Emotions of self pity, pride, anger and attachment to the outcome entangle me such that I cannot even assess or acknowledge the situation for what it is! And so, I remain stuck with my emotions and a whole lot of pain and disappointment.

Note that this entire cycle of pain started with the desire for a specific result.

It’s helpful to remind yourself:

1. The mind is fickle.
2. It has an inherent desire to be right or superior.
3. It loves negativity and amplifies it.
4. It interprets each situation and person and creates a narrative that leads us to experience mostly negative emotions.
5. If you are not mindful, your mind will lead you to one or more of the six enemies thereby robbing you of any peace or happiness.

How do you free the mind?

In my personal experience, the way to combat these emotions and free the mind is through the practice of acceptance, mindfulness, and non-attachment. Whenever I find myself in a situation that triggers any of the six enemies, I use it as a sign that I am getting caught up in the situation. This helps me to snap out of my narrative and pay attention to what is.

In real life, it’s hard not to have any desires and wants. Work towards the fulfillment of those desires. But do so without any attachment to the outcome. Immerse yourself in the act of doing while giving up the expectation of a particular end result. This will ensure that the enemies of the mind cannot hold you hostage.

Accept the outcome, even if it isn’t what you want, because it is the critical first step towards freedom. Acceptance allows you to see the situation exactly as it is, instead of making up stories about it.

Then you are better prepared to respond to the situation. You may choose not to respond as well.

Non-attachment to the end result frees you from the cycle of pain and suffering and enables you to focus all your energy towards the situation at hand.

“Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof. Never let the fruits of action be your motive; and never cease to work. Be not affected by success or failure. This equipoise is called Yoga.” — Bhagavad Gita

1. Observe the mind and the stories it creates.
2. Use discretion to decide if there is any truth to the narrative.
3. Make a choice knowing that freedom lies in ensuring that your choices don’t depend on past experiences.
4. The Buddha teaches that this behavior then leads us to discernment, truth, and peace.

Looking deeply at life as it is in this very moment, the meditator dwells in stability and freedom — Lord Buddha

Final Thoughts

Freedom is precious. Freedom is sacred. Freedom of the mind is true liberation because it cannot be taken away from you. Through acceptance and non-attachment, you can learn to master your mind and therefore your thoughts. Then, no matter the outer circumstances, you will always be free and at peace. I think that’s freedom at it’s best!

*Originally published on the 20th of July, 2021 on Mind Cafe on Medium