Question

Sometimes when I reflect about Dukkha and do Compassionate/Lovingkindness, I feel a distance and separation. Mara then tries to tell me that's good and protecting me. How can we feel more confident, less afraid to open to Dukkha? How can we understand on a deeper level that the separation, rather than protecting, is actually causing us Dukkha?

Answer

It's good to remember those times when we didn't have that separation and remember that our Dukkha faded away then, so that we do not feel we have to lose anything by the unselfish emotions. It's good to look at what we've learned from our practice and ask ourselves, "What do we really know about happiness and its true cause? What do we really know about Dukkha and its true cause?"

Remembering our investigation into the hindrances develops experiential understanding about Cause and Effect, so when we remember those times we actually weren't under the power of one of the hindrances, when we actually opened with Compassionate/Lovingkindness, and remember that feeling of connection and of well-being. It helps us to remember not to fear it again. It may also be helpful at those times when you feel that separation to open with Compassion for yourself because you are having fear at that time. Opening with Compassion for yourself is very helpful.

Our apologies if there are any errors in the above text. If anything seems to be wrong or confusing in any way, please feel free to contact the teachers for further clarification.