Tag: impermanence

Never satisfied

Karl Duffy1 Comment

According to Buddhism, the root of suffering is neither the feeling of pain nor of sadness nor even of meaninglessness. Rather, the real root of suffering is this never-ending and pointless pursuit of ephemeral feelings, which causes us to be in a constant state of tension, restlessness and dissatisfaction. Due to this pursuit, the mind is never satisfied. Even when experiencing pleasure, it is not content, because it fears this feeling might soon disappear, and craves that this feeling should stay and intensify. People are liberated from suffering not when they experience this or that fleeting pleasure, but rather when they understand the impermanent nature of all their feelings, and stop craving them.

Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

What life is like

Karl DuffyLeave a comment

Our life is becoming more and more inundated with TV shows, movies, videos, magazines and newspaper articles that seem to show and tell us what life is like. And then the inevitable comparisons arise: “My life isn’t like that” or “I wish it were” or “It is exactly like that”. The moment we notice sad and painful feelings arising, from thoughts like “I’m unloved; I feel separate and isolated” can we immediately stop, look and listen instead of  going on weaving fancy narratives about ourselves? Can we stop and ask, “Where is this feeling coming from? ” Right now. Asking right this moment. Becoming more transparent to the thoughts and images that evoke these feelings and then deepen, embellish and propagate them. Becoming aware, let us taste directly how stories run our lives.

Toni Parker, The Silent Question.

A natural process

Karl DuffyLeave a comment

The intelligent way of working with emotions is to try to relate to their basic substance. The basic “isness” quality of the emotions, the fundamental nature of the emotions, is just energy. And if one is able to relate with the energy, then the energies have no conflict with you. They become a natural process.


Chögyam Trungpa, The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation

Sunday Quote: Always setting out

Karl DuffyLeave a comment

Having no destination, I am never lost.

Ikkyuu, 1394-1481, Zen Buddhist monk and poet

Let it flow

Karl DuffyLeave a comment

Can’t just “let it go”?

That’s because emotions are not like rocks we can drop and throw.

They are more like drops of water that need to run through us.

So don’t let it go

Let it flow

Lori Deschene, Tiny Buddha blog

Step back

Karl DuffyLeave a comment

Sometimes, to achieve something, it is best if we step back or let go, as the Daoist-sounding great Zen Master reminds us

When you leave the way to the way,

you attain the way.

Dogen, Bodaisatta-Shishobo, The Bodhisattva’s Four Methods of Guidance, 1234