An Open Heart, but a Blocked Mind

Still reading An Open Heart. I am beginning to understand why this is a meditative book. It is very yoga to read...you must be clear-minded, free from distractions, completely focused and absorbed. I have found myself rereading several chapters again and again to comprehend. First, reading, then comprehending, now meditating.

I have come to Chapter 6: "The Vast and The Profound". This chapter started out well in an explanation of what exactly does it mean to have an open heart. We practice love and compassion. We extend our hearts to hone the qualities of generosity and patience. An open heart is really a mind open to compassion, love, sympathy, righteousness and intuition. This is known as "the vast."

I got troubled in the discussion of "the profound." I understand that this is found within the realm of the mind where understanding, analysis and critical perception are the ruling notions. However, I fail to grasp the understanding of impermanence; I am foggy when it comes to realizing the true state of selflessness; and I do not entirely agree with the idea that the nature of human existence is to suffer.

The Dalai Lama knows that these concepts are hard to fathom and concedes that these insights may take many lifetimes to understand. He explains that if we can dispel one basic illusion--the inherent existence of ourselves and all phenomena--then our difficulties become easier to manage. Once you understand the impermanent nature of things, you release the idea of permanence and attachment to life. And once we gain insight to or meditate on the miserable nature of life, we overcome attachment and decrease suffering.

This is difficult for me to understand because I believe that happiness is the nature of human existence, not suffering. I do agree that the miserable nature of things causes suffering, but they are merely obstacles or layers that cloud our blissful core.

Sometimes I wonder if our first life is human life--we reason, we emote, thus we chose and suffer. As we begin to meditate what is true happiness, we find ourselves unraveling mental afflictions, unsheathing our emotions. In a Buddhist view, we would actually be reborn to creatures or existences with less ability to inflict suffering, until we find ourselves a simple amoeba, swimming happily without distraction. Or a simple spark of pure blissful energy.