The Art of Letting Go

Letting go does not mean giving up. It means allowing things to be as they are without clinging or resistance.

In meditation, we practice letting go constantly. A pleasant feeling arises and we want to hold onto it. An unpleasant sensation emerges and we want to push it away. Both are forms of clinging.

True letting go is neither grasping nor resisting. It is simply allowing. The breath comes. The breath goes. Thoughts arise. Thoughts dissolve. Sensations appear. Sensations fade.

This practice extends beyond the cushion. When we can let go of the need for things to be different than they are, we find a profound peace that circumstances cannot touch.

Start small. In your next meditation, notice one thing you are holding onto and gently release your grip on it.