Avoiding Attachment

During my ceramics class today, I attempted to take a two pound lump of clay and shape it into a bowl. As I centered the clay, then made an opening and finally began raising the edges, I imagined in my mind how awesome this bowl would be. About that time, one of the edges collapsed and the rim separated from the base. Sighing with disappointment, I turned off the potter's wheel just as its intertia turned my bowl back into a shapeless lump of clay. I could not help feeling frustrated and disappointed. I was already anticipating a beautiful bowl and now I was going to have to start over.

My attachment to the end result of creating my bowl took me away from the present moment of creating the bowl, and may have led to my ruining the bowl before it was done. In yoga, this concept of attachment is considered an obstacle to self awareness. This is illustrated perfectly with my bowl example - it encourages results oriented energy. The term raga - meaning attachment - describes this concept. It is coupled with dvesha, which is an avulsion to things that are unpleasant. This is an easier concept to grasp. Even children understand that sometimes things that we don't like - such as medicine or brussel sprouts - are often good for us to experience. The idea of ragas is a little more obtuse. How is it damaging for us to be attached to, and therefore try to recreate, pleasant experiences?

Ceramics is an excellent place to learn that attachment is useless. There are so many potential things along the path from lump of clay to glazed and fired that can go wrong with a pot. At my stage of learning, I have no idea which of my actions will be the death of my pot. Therefore, when a pot turns to mush on the potters wheel, I should avoid sighing away my disappointment as the idea of my perfect bowl temporarily dies. Instead, I should realize that the experience was a lesson in what not to do, and move on to my next project.

Well beyond the scope of ceramics, I struggle with detaching myself from the outcome of an activity. Doing things that I love for the pure joy of enjoying them in the moment is my "ragas" lesson. May the universe continue to turn my bowls to mush whenever I stray from the happiness of a moment!