While I was in Kopan monastery, we received teachings from Ven Thubten Pema. She is an Australian non who spends usually 3 months a year in Kopan, Nepal to teach.
Attachment in essence is the overestimation of qualities of its object without seeing the faults. It is not love. It is a different energy.
You project, you fantasize, you fall in love with these and often they are not real.
You do not see the red flags.
The exaggerating or projecting good qualities – then clinging onto the object.
The function of attachment = producing suffering.
There are some antidotes for attachments (I found them quite funny)
❁ Mediation on the ugly “body” (they are a sack of pus, blood and urine)
❁ Meditate on impermanence (stops the clinging)
❁ Meditate on their disadvantages
Love = May you be happy.
Attachment = May you make me happy.
The key to genuine happiness and love is to let go of attachment. Object of attachment – you project qualities that are not there. It brings suffering. You put your happiness in the hands of the OA. Which means it will make you sad sooner or later.
May all beings find genuine love and let go of attachment!
miracles of the moon ☽ 