Developing a Rich Inner Life

“There are two kinds of happiness—the temporary pleasure derived primarily from material comfort alone and another more enduring comfort that results from the thorough transformation and development of the mind.”

–The Dalai Lama

Self-discovery is a hallmark of Buddhism. It is an inner process of exploration rooted in a fundamental trust of who and what we are as human beings and a willingness to open up to the fullness of our experience in the present moment. We gradually let go of our old habit of looking for happiness in the world around us, and, instead, we look within. It is not about getting the circumstances of life just right. It is about learning to see ourselves clearly, in part by letting go of all the limiting beliefs we have about ourselves so we can live with a heart full of wisdom and compassion.

Knowing Our True Nature

If you look at the origin of the word meditate in the Tibetan tradition, it means “to get to know something.” It isn't about reaching some peak experience or altered state of consciousness. It invites us to look at ourselves intimately and deeply. We are simply getting to know our own mind and how it works.

Buddhist psychology points out that there is something within us that is even more fundamental to who we are than our thoughts and memories, our emotions and old habits, and all of our roles and responsibilities. When we cling to all of these layers of our personal identity, we become blind to who we truly are. We lose touch with our innate awareness, compassion, and wisdom—our true nature—blinded by all the cultural conditioning in our lives. This true nature is with us all the time, but most of us have never learned to see it, much less to recognize its importance.

This simple act of turning toward is what Buddhism is all about. It is the path that the Buddha himself followed and eventually taught to many others. It is the path of looking within to discover the very best of ourselves—not as a belief or an abstract idea, but as a direct living experience that we can taste for ourselves.

In the Tibetan tradition, the word for someone who follows the Buddhist teachings is nang-pa, which literally means “insider.” This does not mean an insider in terms of being in the right social circle. It conveys the sense of somebody who finds awakening within. Someone who looks within their own heart and mind for a sense of meaning and fulfillment. When we think about liberation, enlightenment, awakening—whatever fancy words you want to use—we look inside. In other spiritual traditions, the orientation is toward the divine—toward a God or gods, or even, in pantheistic or shamanic traditions, toward nature. Becoming an insider invites inquiry and curiosity, as we begin to truly look at our emotions, thoughts, opinions, prejudices, habits, and so much more, to find out who we really are.

When the Buddha explored his own experience, what did he discover? Who are we at our core? What do we find when we look within?

He discovered that we are not our thoughts and memories, nor our fluctuating emotional states.

We are not our habits.

We are not our culture, family upbringing, or the many roles we play in life.

We are not our clothes, our style, our possessions, or our talents.

We are not our age, relationship status, or health condition.

We are not even our biology.

And why? Because all of these are subject to change. They are based on causes and conditions, and when these causes and conditions change, they change as well. Even our most deeply ingrained emotional habits are unstable. Our oldest memories come and go like the weather. They are part of who we are, but they are not fundamental to who we are.

Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom

Unlike all these ephemeral experiences, there are three essential qualities that are with us in every moment. The Buddha discovered these fundamental qualities for himself, and this is what he taught others to experience as well. In very simple terms, these three innate, ever-present qualities are awareness, compassion, and wisdom. They are always here for us to find, regardless of the changing circumstances of our lives. These qualities are our true nature, and everyone is born with them. Meditation is the process of learning to recognize and nurture these qualities. As we learn to let go of all our limited beliefs about who and what we are, we begin to directly experience a more calm and joyful way of being, one rooted in awareness, compassion, and wisdom.