Vossagga — Letting Go

This is part 24 of a course going through the similes and metaphors of the Buddha. Course home 1: Introduction to Imagery in the EBTs2: Taṇhā — Craving3: Rāga — Passion4: Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion5: Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor6: Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry7: Vicikicchā — Doubt8: Vedanā — Feelings9: Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings10: Sukha — Happiness11: Upekkhā — Equanimity12: Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are13: Vimutti — Liberation14: Upādāna – Grasping15: Sakkāyadiṭṭhi - Self View16: Sammādiṭṭhi - Right View17: Saṅkhāra — Activity18: Vitakka — Thought19: Yoniso Manasikāra — Wise Attention20: Vipassanā — Insight21: Samatha & Vipassanā — Tranquility & Insight22: Samādhi — Immersion23: Viveka — Seclusion24: Vossagga — Letting Go25: Suññatā — Emptiness26: Conclusion

Illustration by Ayya Vimalayani aka "Ven Yodha"

Enlightenment is not another item on our todo list. It is the erradication of the list.

Textbook

Read Chapter 11 of:

From Grasping to Emptiness: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 2 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Suttas

SN 1.1 Oghataraṇa Sutta: Crossing the Flood (.pdf)

AN 4.178: Billabong (.pdf)

Snp 5.4: The Questions of Mettagū – Ajahn Sucitto (.mp3)

Snp 1.2: With the Cattle-owner Dhaniya

Similes

Hecker similes: 35, 48, 77 and 85.

Reflection

I could offer you enlightenment today, but it would cost you your life. Would you take it?

Continue to Part 25, Suññatā — Emptiness

...or go back to part 23