The Third Noble Truth is that the cessation of suffering is to be realized. The realization of the cessation of suffering is not an intellectual concept, but rather a direct experience that results from releasing and relaxing the tension around our suffering thoughts and feelings.
When we are able to abandon the suffering tension, let it go, let it be without attachment to it, it may not disappear completely, but without our full attention, the suffering runs out of energy and dissolves on its own. When there is no more desire, aversion, or ignoring, new suffering does not arise, and you can begin to smile again.
What is left when we abandon the tension of craving and attachment is an experience of peace, calm, and equanimity. When we have a realization of the moment of peace (and I think we have all had some taste of that moment, however brief) we can just relax into that moment, savoring the peace and letting it soak into our being. We may then realize that this peace we experience is not something new, but, rather, something that has been present all along. With releasing and relaxing the tension of clinging, we see what has always been present, but was obscured by our habitual patterns of holding onto “things,” the objects of desire: thoughts, feelings, desires, regrets, hopes, fears, etc.
We cannot just assume that when we release and relax that we will experience the calm of less suffering. We need to actually realize or notice this moment of opening to the peace that is present. This is why we smile when we experience this moment. It is a recognition that we have let go of our clinging and craving for things that will not bring us peace and acceptance of the present moment experience of peace and calm.
So, the prescription is still Release, Relax, and Smile.
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