“Shiv - as always, thanks for your essays. Here’s another question I have been meaning to ask you. Spiritual teachings often advise us to let go of our cravings. How does one do that exactly? Cravings are addictions and is it so simple to just ‘let go’ of an addiction?”
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Spiritual teachings on surrender are often self-contradicting because they imply that there must be an act of will in order to surrender. And yet, that will, that desire to control the outcome, is exactly what needs to be surrendered.
You cannot let go of a craving. The craving must let go of you.
You cannot make it let go of you either. You cannot coerce, cajole, allow, embrace, befriend, ignore - or whatever other manipulation strategy you have learned to use.
Because that desire to control the outcome is the very source of where that craving energy emerges from. It is the very womb that spawns the monster that consumes us.
Instead, ask the question: why?
Why do I have this craving? Why should I try and get rid of it?
Doubtless these cravings cause you to suffer. But that does not in and of itself imply that there is something amiss.
Why does the craving exist? What is it attempting to teach you?
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