Thinky thoughts

I'm reading Christopher Penczak's newest book "Buddha, Christ, Merlin: Three wise men in our age."  I'm not done yet, however this little book's brief synopsis of Buddhist actions is giving me pause to think. Half my life ago when I was exploring my spirituality, before I dedicated my life to the study and practice of witchcraft, I did a small survey of Buddhism. I used some of those practices to teach myself how to meditate, a necessary skill for a witch. In re-familiarizing myself with the concept of non-attachment, I am beginning to understand what I had previously read, but was not yet skilled enough in the world or knowledgeable enough about myself to truly understand. I can't really say that I fully understand it now. What I have now, is just enough experience, sight, and understanding to see how the idea that "attachment causes suffering" becomes true. Human beings suffer when they are torn from the things and/or people to whom they become attached. For example, when a parent or loved one dies, it is painful to us. I might even go so far as to say the amount or duration of the pain is fairly well related to how attached we were/are. Until we let go of that attachment, the pain will continue to be present. To be sure, this is a very simplistic explanation. Something I have learned the hard way over the years, is that it is very possible, and even safer (less painful) to love someone/something without being attached to the relationship. It is no secret that I still feel love for chocorua in my heart, but somehow I was able to let go of my attachment to him, to our relationship, enough to allow that relationship to change without it being particularly painful to me for any great length of time. Witchcraft has prepared me to find aspects of my Buddha Nature so subtly that I live it, frequently, without any effort. I see friends of mine (and I probably am thinking of you, yes, but you are not alone in my thoughts) who are stuck in their attachments to people or things or situations such that they are in a place of near constant pain. I am in no way meaning to belittle their experience. It is very hard to accept that change does happen, and that moving on is good, even though it's scary. Because now we are different, and how does that feel? I love you all, and will try to support you as best I can through your changes, but do not expect me to mourn for you overmuch, for what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.