At the moment of awakening,
The Buddha exclaimed:
“Wonder of wonders!
All living beings are
truly enlightened and
shine with wisdom and virtue.
But because their minds
have become deluded and
become attached to a self,
they fail to understand this.”
One of the exciting developments of psychoanalysis is the
identification of attachment styles. We all come into this world with essential
attachments to our parents and caretakers. Infants cannot survive on their own
so the relationship with the one who feeds and cares for us is necessary for
our ability to develop the means to care for ourselves. This leaves a powerful
impression and becomes a frame of reference for our experiences in the world.
At the heart of these changes is our true self, that part of our mind that is
aware of the thoughts and feelings linked to the experiences that can define
who we are. To understand this and allow our truly enlightened mind to shine we
can consider all of our thoughts and feelings with a genuine curiosity that is
not driven by guilt, shame, or anger.