Addiction

I've been listening to Pema Chodron's book recently called "Noble Heart." Yesterday, I heard her say something that kind of stopped me in my tracks. She said, "We sometimes make the mistake of looking for strength in that which weakens us." It can be very hard to admit, but the reality is that it can indeed be very true.

When we go back, again, again and again to things that weaken us, somehow thinking it's bringing us safety or comfort, that's generally called an addiction. And where ever there's addiction, no matter how big or how small, there's unsoundness in thinking, feeling and actions. That unsoundness can keep us in a vicious, self-defeating cycle that force us to undermine ourselves, erode our self-esteem and interfere with our internal compass, leaving us off coarse and in some instances adrift.

I've been reflecting on that as I slept last night and woke up with it this morning. I've been asking myself, "How can I notice or detect symptoms of an my addiction?" This is an important question, because we tend to mislead ourselves into thinking we are putting out the fire of some painful feelings or problems and yet we are really adding gasoline to fire.

As it turns out, the answer appears fairly simple. Anything that I'm doing repeatedly that closes my heart, resulting in physical, mental and/or spiritual isolation is evidence of the addiction. At this point, I should mention that contrary to common thinking , people hooked by addiction are not "bad," people. Being "bad," is not the issue. It's really about being hooked, in a deep way that can difficult to verbalize or define, which overcomes healthy logic and intuition. We are hiding under wooden tables, thinking that is going to protect us from the nuclear bombs in our life. To live past what weakens, undermines and makes us sick, we have to locate a better solution than trying to hide.

How do we stop giving ourselves to the things that drain our energy, time and our heart? That answer comes very easily too. It's connecting to and learning how to expand the "Awakened Mind," that Is us. There are many ways to do this, but the most tried and true over the last 2,500 years is indeed "Zazen," and all the practices that it implies.

In addition to Zazen, I use some tools/frameworks that I rarely mention but I've found pivotal and particularly helpful in redirecting and focusing my life experience. Perhaps you might find it helpful too. One tool in particular is called NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming. The other is REBT or Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy. Getting into the everyday work of Tony Robbins, Dr. Wayne Dyer and John Izzo make these frameworks highly approachable and compliment Buddhist practice like two gears perfectly meshed together.

Please know that impossible change is possible. Addiction can be melted... dissolved. We can improve, even if just one percent a day. That's all we really need. Small improvements enable the process, influencing us to live and practice in a way that opens not only our hand that is grasping and clinging to negative patterns but our heart too.

Namaste'

Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
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