The path is a spiral, drawing us back to familiar situations yet we see them from a different vantage point. As we move from one level of the spiral to the next, we pass through old karmas in the form of behaviors and mental habits. Before the final release of a specific karma, there is often an extinction burst. We repeat the pattern of behavior with intensity, determined to get the same reward we did in the past.
But as we cycle through, we have changed. What was once rewarding is now dull or sometimes even painful. We might try again and again in a mad frenzy, but alas, the habit no longer delivers the desired result.
Finally, we stop the behavior because the reward is not there. At this point, we recognize we are not who we thought we were. Releasing the old pattern frees us and allows us to come to terms with our new configuration. With child-like curiosity we begin again on the path to discover who we are now and how we relate to the world.
For those of us walking the path of Trikaya Buddhism, our core practices of meditation, mindfulness, and contemplation help us to embrace this dance around the spiral. We look forward to these sometimes sudden and dramatic shifts as markers along the Path. Each round is a precious opportunity to release another layer of ignorance that keeps us from recognizing our true nature of essential goodness.
We are in it Together
Everyone on the planet is also going around the spiral in their own way, at their own speed. As we as a society collectively spin through the changes that come with shifts of awareness, we see the phenomenon of the extinction burst happening on a larger scale.
A prominent behavior we often see is the karma of trying to control others. In the old pattern, the exertion of control led to a rush of pleasure in the form of fear-based dominance over another. Now society has changed. An increased awareness of one’s personal sovereignty permeates the earth as it has become increasingly difficult to isolate groups from the world. Through technology we see each other and we understand our coexistence. To use a term coined by Thich Nhat Han, we are aware of interbeing. Human civilization as a whole has developed a general understanding of our interconnection and interdependence with all elements of existence. Although economic and physical force can still be used to dominate others, the old pattern of exerting control no longer produces the desired result – the cowering fear has been replaced by defiance that is magnified by our connection with each other.
There’s no telling how long an extinction burst will last, but it will eventually end once the reward is no longer given. At that point, players on both sides of the drama at an individual level will find a new way to relate to themselves and to the world. As each person resolves this particular karma, its effect dwindles in society at large. Human civilization is not separate – it is made up of each one of us. Changes happen one drop at a time like the shift in the ocean’s tide.
How We Can Help
As practitioners, we can offer compassion to those who unconsciously spin through the spiral of various karmas. When we spot someone struggling, we can use that noticing to re-enforce our commitment to our practice. We examine how we might have the same karmas, even if they are subtle. By bringing our practice to every aspect of our life, our very presence in the world serves as an example and a beacon to those who are ready to release their karma and recognize their own essential goodness.
For support on your path, no matter where you are on the spiral, join us at Dharma Center of Trikaya Buddhism for meditation and discussions on how to implement Trikaya Buddhism in your life for the benefit of all beings.
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