Find Your Middle Ground

True Detachment

β€”

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“Detachment is like flying high: the higher you fly, the wider a landscape you are able to view.

But when you are unable to fly beyond the limited realities of your daily life, you are like a person who is confined to a narrow cell, unable to enjoy the expansion of nature…

True detachment from the world becomes possible when there is increasing attachment to the Divine Self within one’s heart.”

~ Swami Jyotirmayananda. Taken from “Yoga Gems” edited by Georg Feuerstein

I think we all want to have the feeling of flying high and seeing beyond every day reality. To connect to something beyond our daily life.
Yet, its easy to get confused between true detachment and putting up barriers to the world around us. Some of us may retreat and withdraw from life, rather than engaging in it and touching what is deep within us.

We must continue to connect to our heart. To the loving Source within us. Otherwise it becomes a mind driven practice of witness consciousness, that keeps us confined, rather than sets us free.

Namaste

28 responses to “True Detachment”

  1. Healing Grief Avatar
    Healing Grief

    Practising to fly everyday! Great post Val πŸ’š

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Fly high my friend! Thank you ✈️

      Liked by 2 people

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  2. IreneDesign2011 Avatar
    IreneDesign2011

    Great post, Val πŸ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you dear Irene πŸ’•

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Chatter Master Avatar
    Chatter Master

    I have been so blessed to have that freedom. But, just as much, I have confined myself as well. So much truth to this. ❀

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Colleen for being here .. and being human πŸ’•

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. Therenewedd Avatar
    Therenewedd

    Wow!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you πŸ’›

      Like

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  5. Carrie Cannady Avatar
    Carrie Cannady

    Beautiful reminder for me today, dear Val. Seems we always get what we need when we need it. Thank you. πŸ™πŸ»

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thanks Carrie. I love that thought … πŸ’•

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. Hariod Brawn Avatar
    Hariod Brawn

    Absolutely brilliant, Val; we can’t think our freedom into existence β€” took me a very long time to realise that was one of the many mistakes I made in my practice. For years I thought, or rather presumed that, “I am being aware”, only later to realise that very same thought/assumption is conceptually flawed in that it’s dichotomous (i.e. a subject/object construct). H ❀

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Yes! Thank you Hariod πŸ’• I get it now… especially when I see others attached to their mind’s practice and being unaware of the threshold they stand in.

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. Hariod Brawn Avatar
        Hariod Brawn

        It’s a tricky one, and the reason why many seekers freak out when they hear sages (including the Buddha and certain contemporaries) say that no one ever gets enlightened. It’s interpreted that there is no enlightenment, which is clearly contrary to what the Buddha taught β€” i.e that there is enlightenment, yet no self that becomes enlightened. And that’s logically consistent with the Buddha’s teaching of anattā, or non-self.

        I paraphrase, but in the Pali canon he says something like, “There is suffering, yet no one who suffers; there is The Path, yet no one who walks it; there is nibbāna (enlightenment), yet no one who realises it.” In short, he was in effect saying that the dichotomous construct that the historically, biologically evolved mind creates of subject and object, is erroneous. What the unenlightened consciousness sees/knows is not what it thinks it sees and ‘knows’ β€” i.e. separate ‘things’, coming in and out of existence and residing ‘here’ and ‘there’ β€” but is rather a unified awareness beyond spatial and temporal limit.

        Sorry for the blather; I started so I thought I might as well finish. Hahahaha! H ❀

        Liked by 4 people

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        1. Val Boyko Avatar
          Val Boyko

          I don’t see any blather Hariod, just brilliant clarity and iteration of a concept that is so difficult to put into words. As soon as we use language, we seem to access the thinking “self” that separates things, and prevents us from seeing “unified awareness beyond spatial and temporal limit.” πŸ’•

          Liked by 2 people

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  7. nrhatch Avatar
    nrhatch

    Viewing the world with amused detachment => much more better! Fly high, Val!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Soar on Nancy ❣️

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  8. allysoally Avatar
    allysoally

    Thank you for this, Val. I needed it today! xxxx

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thanks Ally. Me too😊

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  9. universalkindnessmusingsbytara Avatar
    universalkindnessmusingsbytara

    Very good post Val. Coincidentally, I am making preparations to ‘Go Forth’ from my homelife. Have to, need to, want to. I believe I am on my path to Nirvana, but am distracted and, unfortunately stifled.
    Deep respectful bow with hands pressed together at my heart. πŸ™‚

    Tara

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      May the path reveal itself from this challenging place Tara πŸ’›

      Liked by 1 person

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  10. Ann Koplow Avatar
    Ann Koplow

    My heart feels connected to your heart, Val.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      πŸ’•

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  11. lorriebowden Avatar
    lorriebowden

    Wonderful!β˜€οΈ

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you wonderful Lorrie 🌟

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Aquileana Avatar
    Aquileana

    I love what you say… Yes there is a difference between detachment and mere withdrawing… I think that finding something ” toconnect to something beyond our daily life” is really important. Each one of us knows what that “something” is or entails …. Sending love dear Val πŸ˜€ ❀

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Aquileana for sharing your insights. So true … it’s up to each of us to find what is beyond our separate small self, and let it guide us.

      Liked by 1 person

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  13. BollyReview Avatar
    BollyReview

    I liked reading this, but honestly, I’m not even sure what it means. I listen to Buddhist teachings because it has a calming effect on me, but I find that rarely can they provide any defined way of achieving these goals that we are told to aim for. Shouldn’t it be much more practical than how it is currently? And isn’t placing these goals of detachment, self-acceptance, self-love, etc. also a constriction of some kind, an underlying criticism or judgement? If we are to accept and love ourselves, if that is our true goal, we can hardly do it, when we’re constantly trying to change into enlightened beings. I mean, divine self? What does that even mean? My faith in God is more enriching and comforting in many ways, though I do find religious rules constricting at times as well… ohhhh why is it so hard to come to terms with ourselves? πŸ˜₯

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Internal struggle is such an important part of the journey. Early one, it’s important o have intentions and work towards something meaningful. Later we release goals and along with them attachments and aversion. Where you are right now is just right. Becoming aware of inner conflict is an important step, before finding the next one that works for you. Be a candle to yourself. Always πŸ’•

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● About Me

My name is Val T Boyko and I live outside of Philadelphia, USA. I’m originally from Scotland and hold dual citizenship. You can take the girl out of Scotland but you can’t take Scotland out of the girl!

This blog came to life one morning in 2013.  I woke up with these words in my mind:  “Life is a series of highs and lows. Be grateful for the highs. Be graceful in the lows. And find contentment in your Middle Ground.”

Find Your Middle Ground blog started to explore, reflect, ask deep questions, share insights about awakening, and connect with wonderful people like yourself. Thank you for being here and being such an inspiration.

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