Letting go does not mean we don’t care,
it means we care wisely and unconditionally.
Suggest to someone they “let go” and they’ll very likely think you’re telling them to stop caring. Clearly, that’s not what a Buddha would wish us to do.
By letting go, we don’t care less; we care more!
As someone recently described, it’s like having another presence between you and the person you are trying to help. It’s no longer just you—an expectation-ridden, self-oriented, willing but woefully inadequate ordinary being—standing before the person who desperately needs assistance. That presence serves as a buffer, a magnifier, a helper.
In letting go as the Buddha taught, we find our ego, expectations, and viewpoints are filtered out. It’s as if all the “me” is eliminated from what is happening. As this occurs, our sincere wish to help, our empathy, and our limited wisdom are magnified.
And since we’re trying to practice as the Buddha taught, it’s as if we’re being assisted in our helping.
And we are.