I have been a buddhist practitioner for several years now and I am always fascinated how the depth of the teachings seem to keep going on and on.
I recently reviewed Thanissaro Bhikkhu’s study guide on Stream-Entry and for some reason it seems to have clicked something in my brain. I understand that part of stream entry is giving up taking on identities and labels and I have begun to taste the fruits of this practice, this renunciation.
When I really focus in on this sense of becoming, it seems very subtle. I find that when I try to restrain the becoming, or contain the becoming, the becoming becomes the restraint or the container. There may be moments where becoming has ceased, but it still continues to slip out. I try applying the mantra “inconstant, stressful, and not-self” to it, challenge it with noticing the drawbacks of becoming, yet it still persists.
My question is, can we truly stop this becoming process? I find moments of cessation, and they are blissful although impermanent, not-self, and stressful, there seems to be a warm buzz that permeates the body and mind like concentration meditation produces. Is the skillful thing to do to keep trying to find that space of cessation, or do I simply accept becoming is there and to disidentify with becoming itself, knowing becoming itself is conditioned and not real?
Thanks