From Imprisonment to Possibility
There is an old Zen saying: “Disappointment is the chariot of liberation.” But what does that mean? Is it simply wishful thinking when things go wrong? Not quite. It points to a fundamental aspect of the path toward liberation. What are we liberating ourselves from? While we often blame external persons or circumstances for our struggles, the Buddhist tradition is an experiential one—concerned with what is happening here and now. If we set aside blame and easy answers when things don’t go our way, we have uncover an opportunity to learn something valuable about ourselves.
It has been said that we are the working basis of our liberation. Everything we need is already here. What liberates us is developing wisdom; what holds us back is believing in ignorance. Ignorance is not stupidity, nor is it a personal failure—it simply means we have yet to see something clearly. The problems come as we assign meaning to things we don’t understand. Then we are developing frames of belief based on speculation and limited experience. Frames that we become imprisoned by.
Sometimes, what we are ignorant of is right in front of us, waiting to be recognized. Sometimes what blocks our view is believing in what is not there. A curious aspect of 
human behavior is that we will do the extra work of fabricating a fiction, rather than simply relax with what is. This is where mindfulness comes in: the ability to slow down, synchronize with the moment and rest our attention with what is happening. This allows the space for us to see a perspective grander than one constrained by habittual reaction. With mindfulness we are able to see if the next action is leading to freedom or reinforcing habitual patterns that limit us. And we can take the next step. If we are brave enough, we might step through the veil. When we are controlled by fear, we might cycle back to habit.
Many of us feel constrained by our lives, sensing we haven’t achieved all we’ve hoped for. But what if our possibility is greater than these speculative hopes? We are not limited in the present moment as the present is a gateway to vast potential. We are limited by the beliefs we create to limit us. Although we must work with what is revealed in the moment, where that leads is an open book. We might believe the remedy to our discontent is to accept what we have. And acceptance is a requisite step for any change. Often, people struggle because their aspirations and reality don’t align. As the saying goes, “An idea without a plan is a hallucination.” So, we need to join the vast potential of our potential, with what is possible in the moment. Our potential is not limited by the struggles of daily life, and daily life is not preempted by aspiration. In a mindful universe, they work in tandem. Wisdom illuminates the way, as Compassion patiently takes the next right step. In the Shambhala teachings we call this “joining heaven and earth.”
This principle very much applies to our spiritual journey. Buddhism directs us toward awakening our Buddha Nature. Buddha Nature is the essential part of us that is not trapped in habitual patterns. Hence, realizing our Buddha mind is liberation from the constraints we place upon ourselves. Buddha nature embodies wisdom and compassion: wisdom as the clear perception of reality, and compassion as the means to best actualize movement within that reality. If we have wisdom but lack the ability to apply it, we may remain disconnected from the world. If we focus solely on practical concerns—getting groceries, paying bills—without wisdom, we may feel unfulfilled, sensing that life is meant for something greater. And, of course, we would be correct. Only rather than “greater” we might say, more truthful. I make this distinction because truth is usually less complex than fabrication. It takes a lot of energy to prop up the frames of limited beliefs. If we are willing to try, it may be easier to believe in ourselves and our limitless potential and simply take the next right step.
Although we have the wisdom to see beyond the limits of our conceptual frame, those limits are nonetheless deeply ingrained. “Sure, I could seek enlightenment, but I have to go to work today as I do each morning.” Can we not do both? Can we administer our daily lives while still moving toward liberation? True freedom is not about escaping responsibilities—it’s about liberating ourselves from ignorance and the protective structures we build around it. Ironically, the more we reinforce these structures, the more we blind ourselves to the truth. When we become trapped in habitual thinking, we sleepwalk through life, led by circumstances rather than agency.
Liberation means stepping beyond these frames, engaging with life in a more spontaneous and creative way. The protective structures we build are not evil; they once served a purpose. But as we grow, they often become outdated. The path of liberation involves shedding these layers—loosening the protective skins we’ve wrapped around ourselves and moving toward authentic, natural expression.
Buddha nature is ever-changing, like light reflecting through a crystal, shifting with time. Transitioning from a materialistic mindset to a spiritual one does not guarantee freedom—it is merely a shift from one frame to another. Many spiritual seekers fall into the trap of creating comfortable alcoves where they can hide from themselves. But the true path requires continual movement—questioning, exploring, and being willing to step beyond each frame we construct.
Even when we believe we are succeeding within a particular frame, we may only be reinforcing the walls that separate us from deeper understanding. Every mistake, problem, or disappointment is an opportunity—not for blame, but for insight. What we call “failure” often arises from the expectations of the frame we are living within. We didn’t get the job, the person didn’t call back, we failed to reach our goal weight—these disappointments expose the treadmill of habitual thinking that keeps us confined. But when these expectations are disrupted, we have a chance to reset, to step beyond the frame and see our lives with fresh eyes.
It is not necessary to reach the breaking point before we recognize these patterns. Constant upheaval is not the goal. Instead, we cultivate maitri—loving-kindness, patience, and respect for ourselves—encouraging ourselves gently along the path. When things fall apart, we can see it as an opportunity to reconnect with what is real. Each time this happens it signifies that the frame we relied upon has reached its limit.
Disappointment, then, is not just the chariot of liberation—it is cause for celebration. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche famously said, “Chaos should be considered extremely good news.” Chaos, uncertainty, and not knowing can feel dangerous when we cling to familiar structures. But ignorance itself can be the basis for deeper wisdom. When we admit, “I don’t know,” we open ourselves completely—and in that openness, we step toward true liberation.
