Love life

The first truth of Buddhism: Suffering exists. When speaking of suffering, the Buddha didn’t mean some abstract “life is pain,” but a specific list of mental afflictions. Afflictions are contagious — they seep into others and replay themselves. Anyone can list what they dislike, what they can’t stand, and what drives them absolutely nuts. Anyone will tell you how things aren’t going the way they could or should. And you can infect others with your versions. Meanwhile, you’re releasing poison into your own aquarium. There’s nobody else in there. This is water.

The punchline is that none of it exists. The unpleasant is created personally inside your head. It’s all imaginary. You can simply stop paying attention to any of it. That’s the essence of awakening. You start seeing through the illusion. The suitcase without a handle can be left behind — you don’t need it anymore. It doesn’t exist.

There should be nothing superfluous in life. Only what you want. Everything else simply — doesn’t happen to me. It exists on the other side of the screen. Not on this side. Not on mine.

Nothing extra. Only what’s loved. Loved people. Loved activities. A loved life. No other is needed.