Zen & the Search for Clarity
In This Section:
#1 - Life is Full of Dissatisfying Experiences
“If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother.” -Robin Williams
A basic sense of dissatisfaction characterizes life; it’s not that we are primarily unhappy, but the fabric of our existence is characterized by an endless series of highs and lows that leave us frustrated and dissatisfied.
It’s like pushing a shopping cart or trolley with one wheel out of kilter. At first, it's smooth, but about every ten meters, that wheel wobbles, and the entire cart shakes.
But this is also found in our relationships…
We get married — very exciting - high.
We disagree — not so good - low.
We make up — OK, we’re good again - high.
We lose a job — we have no income - low.
We get another — excellent! - high.
Our new boss is an ass — we hate going to work - low.
And the cycle continues endlessly throughout our existence.
This is just one of many examples of what the Buddha called the truth of suffering or dissatisfaction.
Life is filled with it. When we think we’ve got it made in the shade, we experience a setback.