“The cause of suffering is desire”
Buddhism says suffering is caused by desire or attachment. I can certainly understand this for the human mind. I worry about what other people may think, want something in the past changed, desire something in the future or feel ignored, all which can cause myself suffering of the mind.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, taught that detachment from all things except God was important. Poor persons in our society suffer more from being poor than in poor societies since there is so much wealth around them to desire.
In nature, outside of human beings, I do not find such suffering. Animals or plants may suffer from injury but it is it certainly not of the mind and not from desire.
Over the years I have learned through failure that reaching results or goals is not what brings peace of mind. It is detachment and not imposing suffering upon oneself that brings peace of mind.
Father Anthony De Mello, the deceased Indian Jesuit, told stories about persons facing sure death who were happy since they lived in the present moment and did not worry and fret over what they could not control.
All this is easier said than done. But from other persons, and our own mistakes and failures, we can learn how to be more detached, live simply and desire less.
A child running naked into a room of adults can bring some laughs. The child, unaware they are laughing at him or her, will laugh with the adults; a child that thinks they are laughing at him or her will cry.
Be natural, like a child doing something silly for adults or a like a large tree shedding leaves in the fall. Just do not desire to be natural.
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