Jan Chozen Bays on the incessant desires that fuel our confusion and suffering. Desire. That’s what The Buddha found after six years of investigating the cause of suffering. Desire. At the end of a seven-day retreat my mind is clear enough to see it arise. I drive past a neon sign that reads “PIZZA,” and a voice in my mind says, “I want some. Let’s stop.” Then another part [...]
Happiness in Every Breath
When we stop feeding our cravings, says Thich Nhat Hanh, we discover that we already have everything we need to be happy. The human mind is always searching for possessions and never feels fulfilled. This causes impure actions ever to increase. Bodhisattvas, however, always remember the principle of having few desires. They live a simple life in peace in order to practice [...]