Salt Water

Trying to quench unhealthy desire is like drinking a large glass of salt water to quench one‘s thirst. It only increases the thirst. Some say all desire is bad, but this is not so. The desire for proper food, water, shelter, and medicine is necessary to survival. What is proper? How do we achieve moderation? We should take what is absolutely needed; not for the purpose of enjoyment, or for pride, or for intoxication, but only for the sake of maintaining and sustaining this body, to avoid harm and to support our path. It is when we seek to satisfy sensual, unnecessary desire that causes suffering. It is what leads us away from the path and into dense jungle where we may become trapped or lost.