What is detachment and how does it interfere in our lives – Blog

Most people imagine that detachment means living with few material things, giving up what is superfluous and having a simple life. This is a way of seeing it, but it seems very difficult to have in practice, since we live in a society that always wants more of everything. We need to understand what is detachment through another point of view, that of balance.

After all, what is detachment?

Detachment is the ability to let go of objects, people, ideas and situations. For example, to change our lives and move on, we need to let go of what no longer serves us. This is the hardest part, but when we do it, we become calmer people and more receptive to changes and unforeseen events.

Attachment is related to the fear of losing, that tomorrow what we love so much will no longer be here. This makes us cling to things, people and situations that no longer fit in our lives. Who has never kept an old dress, because fashion can come back? Who hasn’t stayed in a destructive relationship for fear of being alone? It is in these moments that we need to learn detachment, which is linked to love.

The Indian master Osho has a text called Detachment that explains well how this relationship works. Read an excerpt:

“All our miseries and sufferings are nothing but attachment. All our ignorance and darkness is a strange combination of a thousand and one attachments. We are attached to things that will be taken away at the moment of death, or even, perhaps, before. He may be very attached to money, but he could go bankrupt tomorrow. You may be very attached to your power and position, but they are like soap bubbles. Today they are here; tomorrow they will not leave a trace. (…)

All our positions, all our powers, our money, our prestige, respectability are all soap bubbles. Don’t get attached to soap bubbles; otherwise, he will be in continual misery and agony. These soap bubbles don’t mind being attached to them. They keep crashing and disappearing into thin air and leaving you behind with a broken heart, with a failure, with a deep destruction of your ego. They make you sad, bitter, angry, frustrated. They make his life hell.

Understanding that life is made of the same stuff as dreams is the essence of the path. Let go: live in the world, but don’t be of the world. Live in the world, but don’t allow the world to live within you. Remember that he is a beautiful dream, because everything is changing and disappearing.”

These wise words exemplify well what is detachment and they can encourage you to let go, move on, and embrace whatever life throws at you, always ready to let go when needed.

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