Abandoning hope can be a difficult concept to grasp for the western mind. It doesn’t mean giving up, but rather being at peace with who you are in this very moment -flaws and all.
By letting go of our expectations for an imaginary, improved future, we are forced to make amends with our current circumstances. Rather than live in the fantasy world of hope, we can look at our current circumstances squarely in the eye and know that all things are impermanent.
Hope and fear are two sides of the same coin. When we hope for something, we also fear the possibility of not getting it. This can lead to a constant state of anxiety, worry and a loss of confidence. It’s like a drug that gives you a buzz early on but later causes you to crash and burn in the disappointment.
In Chinese folk religion, a hungry ghost is a being consumed by insatiable desire that can never be fulfilled. They are trapped in an endless cycle of craving, hope and dissatisfaction, never able to find relief from their suffering or satisfy their hunger. These ghosts are cursed to perpetually pursue their desires, without ever attaining that which they seek.
The Japanese animated series Bleach portrays restless dead souls called Hollows. The Hollows experience great agony due to unresolved issues from their past lives. They are plagued with insatiable desire and are doomed to an existence devoid of purpose. These masked beasts relentlessly pursue human souls to devour but never find satisfaction.
Most poignantly in Bleach The Hellverse, the character Ichigo Kurosaki faces a devastating situation when his sister’s soul is taken to hell and he is unable to save her. This event causes him immense emotional pain and leads to his transformation into a hollow during his battle against his nemesis, Ulquiorra.
As he becomes consumed by hate and despair, Ichigo is portrayed as a tormented figure, struggling with his newfound identity as a vengeful ghost or Hollow. The transformation of the hero into a creature consumed by negative emotions highlights the detrimental effects of obsession and the consequences of being unable to let go of trauma.
We don’t need to force change; everything is constantly changing on it’s own; all dharmas are impermanent. Neither should we blame our circumstances for our suffering. Instead we can contemplate the first noble truth which states that life contains inevitable, unavoidable suffering.
We can let ourselves off the hook and alleviate our suffering by accepting, that whom, and what we are in this moment is enough. In so doing we become centered and accelerate the process of positive transformative change. We don’t need to hope for the future; this moment is enough.
By fully embracing our condition however fucked up it may seem, we can let go of despair and cultivate inner peace.
Buddha said, “The root of suffering is attachment.” By letting go of our attachment to a certain outcome, we can release ourselves from the grip of worry and experience greater happiness.
Accepting ourselves just as we are is a fundamental component of inner peace and self confidence. We often have a tendency to compare ourselves to others or focus on our flaws and shortcomings.
However, as Thich Nhat Hanh said, “You are already what you are seeking.” By accepting ourselves as is, flaws and all, we can develop a greater sense of self-compassion which is very empowering.
When we abandon hope we let go of our attachments; we quit being the donkey, foolishly chasing the carrot of material possessions and external achievements. As we let go of our attachment to these things, we can find greater joy and fulfillment in the present moment.
Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. From this state of being we are more competent at everything we do. As Pema Chodron advises, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” By embracing the challenges that come our way, we can develop a greater sense of resilience.
The concept of abandoning hope may be difficult to grasp, but it can lead to personal power. We can pull off the band-aid and learn to accept ourselves just as we are.
In conclusion, by letting go of attachments and false expectations, we can make peace with our current circumstances and alleviate our suffering. We can navigate life’s challenges with dignity and grace, instead of degenerating into hungry ghosts and falling down into the hellverse.
