The Colouring and Shaping of Experiences

Understanding how perceptions are deeply influenced by the state of the mind (citta) is crucial in the practice of mettā (loving-kindness), compassion, and joy, which not only cultivate positive qualities but also offer insight into emptiness. Regular practice shows the variability of our perceptions of others and how they are influenced by our mental states. For example, when mettā is strong, someone may seem more lovable; when it is weak, the opposite may be true. This realization helps to question our usual assessments of others, which are largely based on our own experiences, conditioning, and categorizations. Recognizing the mind's influence on perception can lead to a more compassionate outlook. Furthermore, experimenting with perception by deliberately trying to see others as ‘friends’ can also reveal the malleability of perception and its importance in shaping our reality.

Of the World

The way we perceive the world is equally malleable and is colored by the states of the citta. When qualities like generosity and compassion are strong, the perception is of a world filled with beauty, love, and peace. Conversely, when the citta is contracted by self-centeredness, the world appears different and there's a predominance of dualities and fear. Recognizing this highlights the influence of mental karma, the habitual dispositions of the citta that shape our perceptions, which in turn can become habitual.

Emptiness and Ethical Care

The realization of phenomena’s emptiness should remain tied to ethical care. Tsongkhapa and other Buddhist scholars maintained that understanding emptiness (śūnyatā) must integrate with an understanding of karma and commitment to ethics. Seeing the connection between perception and the state of citta underlines the importance of caring for ethics and cultivating positive qualities, as these play a part in what experiences one encounters.

Deeper Insights From Love: Seeing Fading Through Mettā and Compassion

Mettā and compassion practices can reveal profound insights into dependent arising. When love is directed at phenomena instead of beings, the clinging towards that object is reduced, and the perception begins to fade. The qualities of calmness, kindness, and compassion inherently involve less craving for the object of perception, leading to a deepened understanding of emptiness when applied in practice.

Fading, Fabrication, and Healing the Past

The insights from understanding the fabricated nature of experiences are significant. It challenges assumptions around emotional healing through catharsis. If there is less clinging, phenomena like painful emotions arise less, suggesting that experiences of purification rely on aversion, grasping, or self-view. The Buddha used analogies to demonstrate that the influence of past experiences is sometimes negligible compared to the present state of the citta. Furthermore, beliefs have a significant impact on our experiences, and holding onto notions of purification can perpetuate experiences of difficulty.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, flexibility in perspectives is crucial for emotional healing and liberation. Different teachings are applicable in different contexts. An understanding that our reactions to the past are influenced by present conditions opens up more nuanced approaches to healing. Instead of focusing on an excavation model of emotional healing, recognizing the scope of present fabrication in the arising of past-related experiences suggests a broader, more compassionate understanding of emotional difficulties. Freedom includes the ability to see in diverse ways, each with its own validity but without claiming ultimate truth.