How far is attachment allowed? My dog has run away and I am sad. To be honest I was probably not taking care of him the best as one possibly could. We both excelled or declined based on my success, but I tried to allow him his own freedom and now he is gone. 

Do I grieve? I mean I know that I am but should I?

Is this precisely the type of attachment I should and must choose to sever? This dog has been my friend and cohort for almost 10 years. He helped me recover from heart attacks and multiple surgeries. How could one not grow attached?

So should I feel relieved or guilty and sad?

I made sure to ask this while he was missing. Now he has since been found and returned.
Having any confusion about what is proper and what is not, we can approach the question by investigation.

Even if we don't find the answer for a long time, our skills of investigation would probably grow; so this would help not only in solving that question, but also for all the future questions.

Feelings are the primary data for our mind. Therefore, in order to reach clean perception, it might be natural to accept feelings exactly as they come, not trying to change them in forceful ways.

Therefore, whatever feelings come, we can practice by


accepting them as they are,
observing whatever phenomena accompany them,
and investigating causes and results.


How can we investigate causes and results? For example, we observe how feelings are being created, and what phenomena they lead to.

This way we learn how various mental factors interact and develop. In that sense, we understand their meanings. This understanding of meanings constitutes the knowledge of what is proper and why exactly.

This practice will not only solve the problem, but also will give some insight in mechanisms working in our mind. Knowing those mechanisms, we could improve our practice, as well as help others better.

Let it be helpful!