Q&A about Relaxing the Body and Mind - Question 5: How is relaxation different from letting go and spacing out?

A: Relaxation is the foundation for letting go; only by letting go can you truly relax.

Ordinary people are accustomed to dividing the phenomena they see into "mine", "yours", "the external environment", "my five aggregates", etc. Since we cannot accept the fact that our mind is one with all living beings and the environment, the mind will follow the external environment whenever it changes. When the mind cares and is opposed something, the body will become tense as a result. Therefore, to "let go" is to have neither the thought of self in one’s mind, nor person, nor sentient beings, nor beings with a lifespan (i.e. the Four Marks). This is to realize that the five aggregates are empty. To relax the mind is to let go, and to let go of the body is to relax. 

"Space out" means not thinking or doing anything. When we don't think or do anything, the mind seems to be relaxed at first glance; however, this is only a superficial relaxation, because we may not be clear about what state our mind is in. If we explore further inward, perhaps the deep self is still calculating. 

Secondly, "space out" apparently seems to be thinking and doing nothing, but in fact it is still attached to an idea of "thinking and doing nothing". Letting go, in its true sense, is that the mind does not abide in any state, which is what the Diamond Sutra calls "non-abiding". 


Extended Reading:

Relaxation and Ease of Mind

Q&A about Relaxing the Body and Mind - Question 1: How do we know that the body is tight and needs to be relaxed?

Q&A about Relaxing the Body and Mind - Question 2: Why is it easy to become drowsy when relaxing?

Q&A about Relaxing the Body and Mind - Question 3: Does relaxation mean thinking and doing nothing?

Q&A about Relaxing the Body and Mind - Question 4: I know I want to relax, but I just can't make it. What should I do?

Q&A about Relaxing the Body and Mind - Question 5: How is relaxation different from letting go and spacing out?

Relaxation for Recovery of Body-mind Balance

Physical and mental relaxation strategies


Resource: Issue 353 of Life Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Photos: Issue 353 of Life Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Translation: James Hsu
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL