A Commentary Literature on ‘Faith in Mind’

Chapter 22: Attachment Deviates You

By Wong Weng Hon

Attach to it and you lose the measure ;
The mind will enter a deviant path.

In the undertaking of Chan practice or any method of Dhamma practice, the principal practice is one and the same i.e practice of non-attachment. When there is attachment to anything in practice, one loses the Supreme Way or one is deviated from the right path of discernment. One fails to enter the path or to enter the stream of the true Dhamma. One fails to undertake the Noble Eight Fold Path or the Noble Path of Six Perfections (Paramitas). The main obstacle to realize the Buddha-mind or the wisdom of Emptiness is attachment. Attachment must be eradicated as the battle of destroying the three poisons of life, namely, greed, hatred and delusion. In short, attachment obstructs enlightenment because it evokes self-centric ego.

Attachment is not compatible with the Supreme Way.
Attachment is not compatible with the Buddha-nature
Attachment is not compatible with the Buddha-mind.
Attachment is not compatible with No-mind.
Attachment is not compatible with non-arising and non-ceasing
Attachment is not compatible with self-enlightenment.

Attachment must be eliminated to self-actualize self-awakening and to enter the Supreme Way. Attachment does not imply ceasing to seek the worthy goal. The seeking of worthy goal must not be abandoned for the sake of the welfare, benefits and happiness of others. The Buddha expounds that in the process of seeking, one should not develop any taint of attachment. All wholesome actions must be committed without any attachment i,e without the notion of self, Iness or mineness. This is the undertaking of the true Dhamma.

To be continued ….