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Generally, most of man’s earthly pursuits do not veer far from physical objects in this world. For example, in our daily life, food is necessary for our physical well-being. Some people may eat only vegetables and tofu, yet they are energetic and healthy; whilst there are others who cannot stomach a meal without any fish or meat.
Those with great wants and desires often expend a lot of effort over a lifetime, but they may still feel unfulfilled; whereas those with few desires may be able to live the same life with less worries, and much peace, contentment and joy.
In fact, the food we eat is to satisfy our hunger, and the clothes we wear are meant to protect our bodies. Other than to meet these basic human needs, there is actually no other deeper meaning to them. If we blindly pursue luxuries, it will become an unhealthy form of “thirsty love”. Such an endless pursuit will only result in a withered heart, akin to a desert scorched by a burning sun. The desert is a dry and arid place to begin with; after being exposed to a scorching sun, we can imagine how even more parched and barren the land will become. The pain and suffering resulting from “thirsty love” is similar to this.
If we can comprehend such notions and use resources prudently just to satisfy our basic needs, it will save us unnecessary time and limited resources, and direct us towards the right path in life, i.e. to give back to society what we have received.
Living in this world, if we merely drift through our lives and allow our bodies to age and become sick over time, then we will live a rather meaningless life. However, if we can reduce our time and effort spent on pursuing our wants and desires, we will be able to quieten our hearts and pursue the right path in life.
Extracted from “Sheng Huo De Zhi Hui”《生活的智慧》
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
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