Focus and Attachment
This post is an exploration of how our metaphysical understanding of the world shapes our perception and so in turn determines the emotional attachment we cultivate for material possessions…
“We see what we choose to focus on.”
– Tony Robins
In the western world our metaphysical belief system is one of atomicity due to our cultural roots being born from the religion of Christianity. This is a view where God is separate from the self which gives rise to the perception that other elements of reality are also separate from each other.
What this means is that we view a tree to be a tree, the grass to be grass, cars to be cars, and humans to be humans – all separate from each other and independent in their existence.
We see the car as a car, not a collection of parts made from different materials each constructed through different processes that are then temporarily collected together in the configuration which constitutes the car.
Buddhist scriptures say…
When forming our perception, if we first explore the dependence of the object we will avoid egoic emotional attachment and the delusion the object is more than the sum of its parts…
However, reflecting on this reductionist approach, it could be very easy to strip away all value from our perceived world by simply labelling everything as different temporary collections of matter (energy) that are finite in existence.
To be honest, this is very true to an extent, but what this mindset walks past is the fact that a configuration can be more than the sum of its parts. This is what we can call emergent qualities.
The car has increased value in its specific configuration as it can take us places quickly and safely (hopefully). I am pretty certain almost 100% of people would prefer their car over piles of the materials that make up the car – one certainly has more value than the other.
So, the real beauty here is about learning to form a perception that is founded on both perspectives. One that acknowledges the makeup of the objects observed and all the dependent process which gave rise to their formation in to a temporary state, while also respecting the emergent qualities that they possess.
The emergent quality of objects is tantamount to the emergent quality of consciousness in the universe. It is through interaction between these emergent energy fields that a feedback loop is created which increases the resonance of the universe as a whole.
We only engage this feedback loop though when we become non attached to the object we perceive. We must embrace the true reductionist nature of the object and be aware of its dependent nature, while at the same time embracing it for what it is in the present moment.
Replacing attachment with reverence.
This logic applies to how we perceive everything, including ourselves.
Take some time to ponder how this applies to you and what that would mean for your perception of the world…
Enjoy, for now.