For the punk scene, that started with musical preference before branching out into fashion and politics; for those practicing Buddhism this is being able to remove ourselves from the constant pressure of negative thought habits and external factors such as consumerism and social media misuse.

 

By Rob Argent

The idea of identity is a strong one in today’s society.

Everyone is encouraged to treat their online presence as a “brand,” keeping posts and statements on message and consistent with your perceived image.

When we’re confronted by pressures (either from ourselves or others) its tempting to fall back on a fixed identity to help shore us up and define who we are to help us respond. But our identity as defined through a Buddhist lens is a temporary creation, merely an illusion that threatens to cause us further grief and suffering if we become too attached to it.

So how can we remain true to ourselves without becoming consumed by ourselves? Or even worse, wrapped up in worries about what others expect of us?

Just look at the punk ethos, which is based around the ideas of resisting authority, capitalism, conformity via the use of DIY communities. By being able to step outside of the expected thoughts and beliefs of mainstream society, we can create a space to breathe and see what works for us, what truly works for us rather than simply settling for what everyone else has and does.

For the punk scene, that started with musical preference before branching out into fashion and politics; for those practicing Buddhism this is being able to remove ourselves from the constant pressure of negative thought habits and external factors such as consumerism and social media misuse. Do we want to be constantly reacting to external stimulus, or do we want to quietly step back and take control of our lives, in a peaceful, harmonious way with nature and the way things are meant to be?

Whereas the punk movement focused on their anger at the way things are, which in turn inspired them to effect change, a mindful movement would instead centre oneself first before looking to influence the world around them.

Have you ever tried listening to full on, aggressive music for hours at a time?

The effect is that after a while, your ears start to tire, and that initial shock of the music starts to wane into loud background noise—no wonder so many people motivated by righteous indignation burn out when they understand that real, lasting social change takes a long time.

The danger is hanging onto that fixed image of being the one who tirelessly works for the benefit of others with no thought to their own self-care. By embracing the teaching of anatta, or nonself, then we remove the fixed core of ourselves, the part that can become a rod for our own backs.

Accepting that our individual actions are merely part of a whole helps us to remain who we are while also releasing the pressure to solve everything on our own. Personal responsibility is still a must but when we’re all interconnected, that responsibility is also shared with everyone else.

Our individuality and personal expression cannot be completely erased so the real trick is to embrace both our interconnectedness and our provisional reality, so that we can continue to be a light for ourselves and others. Walking the middle path can be hard, but sitting in between individual progress and communal selflessness is where how we leave suffering behind and move forward into the future.

Knowing how you are is one thing, knowing that we are all together is another.

 

 

 

Rob Argent is an outreach practitioner, helping others recover from addiction, as well as being a qualified therapist. A lifelong interest in martial arts led him from Karate to Kung Fu, Tai Chi and meditation, and from there to Zen Buddhism in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Bringing spirituality into daily working life is his interest, and in his spare time he enjoys rock music—the heavier the better.

 

 

Photo: Pixabay

Editor: Dana Gornall

 

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Anatta: Where Did I Leave Myself?

What Do They Mean By No-Self in Buddhism? (Hint: It’s Not What You Think)

 

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