THE MECHANISM OF LETTING GO
Letting go involves being aware of a feeling, letting it come up, staying with it, and letting it run its
course without wanting to make it different or do anything about it. It means simply to let the feeling
be there and to focus on letting out the energy behind it. The first step is to allow yourself to have
the feeling without resisting it, venting it, fearing it, condemning it, or moralizing about it. It means to
drop judgment and to see that it is JUST a feeling. The technique is to be with the feeling and
surrender all efforts to modify it in any way. Let go of wanting to resist the feeling. IT IS
RESISTANCE THAT KEEPS THE FEELING GOING. When you give up resisting or trying to modify
the feeling, it will shift to the next feeling and be accompanied by a lighter sensation. A feeling that is
not resisted will disappear as the energy behind it dissipates.
As you begin the process, you will notice that you have fear and guilt over having feelings; there will
be resistance to feelings in general. To let feelings come up, it is easier to let go of the reaction to
having the feeling in the first place. A fear of fear itself is a prime example of this. Let go of the fear
or guilt that you have about the feeling first, and then get into the feeling itself.
When letting go, IGNORE ALL THOUGHTS. Focus on the feeling itself, not on the thoughts.
Thoughts are endless and self-reinforcing, and they only breed more thoughts. Thoughts are merely
rationalizations of the mind to try to explain the presence of the feeling. The real reason for the
feeling is the accumulated pressure behind the feeling that is forcing it to come up in the moment.
The thoughts or external events are only an excuse made up by the mind.
As we become more familiar with letting go, it will be noticed that all negative feelings are associated
with our basic fear related to survival and that all feelings are merely survival programs that the mind
believes are necessary. The letting go technique undoes the programs progressively. Through that
process, the underlying motive behind the feelings becomes more and more apparent.
To be surrendered means to have no strong emotion about a thing: "It's okay if it happens, and it's
okay if it doesn't." When we are free, there is a letting go of attachments. We can enjoy a thing, but
we don't need it for our happiness. There is progressive diminishing of dependence on anything or
anyone outside of ourselves. These principles are in accord with the basic teaching of the Buddha to
avoid attachment to worldly phenomena, as well as the basic teaching of Jesus Christ to "be in the
world but not of it."
Sometimes we surrender a feeling and we notice that it returns or continues. This is because there
is more of it yet to be surrendered. We have stuffed these feelings all of our lives and there can be a
lot of energy pushed down that needs to come up and be acknowledged. When surrender occurs,
there is an immediate lighter, happier feeling, almost like a "high."
LETTING GO: THE PATHWAY OF SURRENDER, David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D., pg. 19-21.
Letting go of negative feelings is the undoing of the ego, which will be resistant at every turn. This
may result in skepticism about the technique., "forgetting" to surrender, a sudden upsurge of
escapism, or venting feelings by expressing or acting out. The solution is simply to keep on letting go
of the feelings you have about the whole process. Let the resistance be there but don't resist the
resistance.
You are free. You don't HAVE to let go. Nobody is forcing you. Look at the fear behind the resistance.
What are you afraid of regarding this process? Are you willing to let go of that? Keep letting go of
every fear as it arises, and the resistance will resolve.
...
Let's not forget that we are letting go of all the programs that have made us a slave and a victim for a
long time. These programs have blinded us to the truth of our real identity. The ego is losing ground
and will try tricks and bluffs. Once we start letting go, its days are numbered and its power is
diminishing. One of its tricks to to go unconscious about the technique itself, for instance, to decide
suddenly that the mechanism of surrender isn't working, things are still the same, it is confusing, and
too hard to remember and do. This is a sign of real progress! It means that the ego knows we have a
knife with which to cut ourselves free and it is losing ground. The ego is not our friend. Like "master
control" in Tron (1982), it wants to keep us enslaved by its programs.
Letting go is a natural ability. It is not something new or foreign. It is not an esoteric teaching or
somebody else's idea or a belief system. We are merely utilizing our own inner nature to get freer
and happier. When letting go, it is not helpful to "think" about the technique. It's better, simply, just to
do it. Eventually, it will be seen that all thoughts are resistance.
Doc, Letting Go, The Pathway of Surrender, Ch. 2, The Mechanism of Letting Go, p. 22-23
Basic Principles of Letting Go
A thought is a “thing”. It has energy and form.
The mind with its thoughts and feelings controls the body; therefore, to heal the body, thoughts and
feelings need to be changed.
What is held in mind tends to express itself through the body.
The body is not the real self; it is like a puppet controlled by the mind.
Beliefs that are unconscious can manifest as illness, even though there is no memory of the
underlying beliefs.
An illness tends to result from repressed and suppressed negative emotions, plus a thought that
gives it specific form (i.e., consciously or unconsciously, one particular illness is chosen rather than
another).
Thoughts are caused by suppressed and repressed feelings.
When a feeling is let go, thousands or even millions of thoughts that were activated by that feeling
disappear.
Although a specific belief can be cancelled and energy to it can be refused, it is generally a waste of
time to try to change thinking itself.
We surrender a feeling by allowing it to be there without condemning, judging, or resisting it. We
simply look at it, observe it, and allow it without trying to modify it. It will run out in due time.
A strong feeling may recur, which means there is more of it to be recognized and surrendered.
In order to surrender a feeling, sometimes it is necessary to start by relinquishing the feeling that is
there about the particular emotion (e.g., guilt that “I shouldn’t have this feeling”).
In order to relinquish a feeling, sometimes it is necessary to acknowledge and let go of the
underlying payoff of it (e.g., the “thrill” of anger and the “juice” of sympathy from being a helpless
victim).
Feelings are not the real self.
Whereas feelings are programs that come and go, the real inner Self always stays the same; Ignore
thoughts.
No matter what is going on in life, keep the steadfast intention to surrender negative feelings as they
arise.
Make a decision that freedom is more desirable than having a negative feeling.
Choose to surrender negative feelings rather than express them.
Surrender resistance to and skepticism about positive feelings.
Relinquish negative feelings but share positive ones.
Notice that letting go is accompanied by a subtle, overall lighter feeling within yourself.
Relinquishing a desire does not mean you won’t get what you want.
Get it by “osmosis”. Put yourself in the aura of those who have what you want.
“Like goes to like.”
Be aware that your inner state is known and transmitted.
Persistence pays off.
Let go of resisting the technique. Start and end the day with it.
You are only subject to what you hold in mind.
Stop giving the physical disorder a name; do not label it.
The same is true of our feelings.
--Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender, 2012, David R. Hawkins, M.D., PhD, Veritas Publishing,
chapter 20, pgs. 295-9
The Relationship of Consciousness to Stress and Disease:
As we have seen, stress proneness and vulnerability are directly related to our general level of
emotional functioning. The higher we are on the scale on consciousness, the less we respond with
stressful reaction. We can take a simple incident from everyday life and illustrate the differences in
reactivity.
Let’s say, for example, that we have parked out car and, just as we get out, the car parked in front of
us backs up into our car with a thud. Our bumper and the front of the fender are dented. Here is what
the different levels of consciousness might sound like:
Shame: “How embarrassing. I’m such a lousy driver. I can’t even park a car. I’ll never amount to
anything.”
Guilt: “I had it coming. How stupid I am! I should have done a better job of parking.”
Apathy: “What’s the use? Things like this always happen to me. I probably won’t collect on the
insurance anyway. There’s no use talking to the guy. He’ll just sue me. Life stinks.”
Grief: “now the care is ruined. It will never be the same. Life is grim. I will probably lose a bundle on
this one.”
Fear: “This guy is probably furious. I’ afraid he’ll hit me. I’m afraid to talk back to him. He’ll probably
sue me. I’ll probably never get the car fixed right again. Car repair people always rip me off. The
insurance company will probably get out of this one, and I’ll be the one left holding the bag.”
Desire: “I can make a bundle on this one. I think I will hold my neck and fake a whiplash. My brother
–in-law is a lawyer. We’ll sure the pants off this idiot. I’ll get a settlement on the highest estimate and
get it fixed at a cheaper place.”
Anger: “The damned idiot! I think I’ll teach this guy a lesson. He deserves a good punch in the nose.
I’ll sue his pants off and make him suffer. My blood is boiling. I feel shaky with rage. I could kill the
bastard.”
Pride: “Look where you’re going, you fool! Oh God! The world is full of such bumbling idiots! How
dare he damage my new car! Who the hell does he think he is? He’s probably got cheap insurance;
thank God mine is the best.”
Courage: “Oh, well, we’ve both got insurance. I’ll take down the data and handle it okay. A nuisance
but I can handle it. I’ll talk to the driver and get it settled out of court.”
Neutrality: “These things happen in life. You can’t drive 20,000 miles a year without an occasional
fender bender.”
Willingness: “How can I help the guy calm down? He doesn’t need to feel upset about it. We’ll just
exchange the necessary insurance information and be okay with each other.”
Acceptance: “It could have been worse. At least nobody’s hurt. It’s only money anyway. The
insurance company will take care of it. I suppose the guy’s upset. That’s only natural. Such things
just can’t be helped. Thank God I’m not running this universe. It’s only a minor nuisance.”
Reason: “Let’s be practical here. I’d like to take care of it as quickly as possible so I can get on with
the day’s activities. What’s the most efficient way to resolve our problem?”
Love: “I hope the guy isn’t upset. I’ll calm him down. (Says to the other driver). ‘Relax. It’s all okay.
We’ve both got insurance. I know how it is. It happened to me just the same way. It was a minor dent
and we got it fixed in a day. Don’t worry- we won’t report it if you don’t want to . We can probably
deduct it and avoid a raise in insurance premium. There’s nothing to be upset about.” (Reassures the
upset driver, putting an arm on his shoulder in fellow human camaraderie.)
Peace: “well, isn’t that fortuitous? I was going to have the rattle in the bumper fixed, anyway, and the
fender already had a little dent. So now I’ll get it fixed for nothing. ‘Say, aren’t you George’s brother-in
–law? You are just the guy I wanted to see. I have some great business that I think you can handle
for me We’ll both benefit. You look like the right person to research it for us. How about a cup of
coffee and we can talk it over? By the way, here’s my insurance card. Say, that’s the same company
as yours. What a coincidence. Everything is working out for the best. No problem.” (Walks off
humming with new friend, the incident already forgotten.)
The above illustrates all that we have been saying. It is we ourselves who create stressful reactions
as a consequence of what we are holding within us. The suppressed feelings determine our belief
systems and our perception of ourselves and others. These, in turn, literally create events and
incidents in the world, events that we, then, turn around and blame for our reactions. This is selfreinforcing system of illusions. This is what the enlightened sages mean when they say, “We are all
living in an illusion.” All that we experience are our own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs projected onto
the world, actually causing what we see to happen.
- Dr. David Hawkins, Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender, Veritaspub, 2012. P. 208-211.