Wanting

Believe it or not, all the problems in life start from wanting. We want this and that and then another want follows. Wanting is endless. More and more wants will follow if we allow in just one. It is said, “Wanting never knows enough. It is endless.” There is a Chinese story, from the book called ‘Han Fie Jue’, which gives a good example of this. Here is the story:

There once lived a King who lived a simple life. One day someone offered him a pair of chopsticks made of ivory. When he got them he thought, “This pair of chopsticks is very luxurious, I cannot use a baked clay-bowl with it. I have to find a jade bowl, so that it matches the chopsticks.” And then he thought more about food, “ With the ivory chopsticks and jade bowl I must eat only the best food.” From that time on, he could not eat simple food as before. He ordered his men to hunt and kill wild animals such as deer, tiger and bear and to cook these for him. And what is more, he could no longer wear just simple clothes; his clothes had to be very luxurious, or fashionable. Now his palace also had to be rebuilt and decorated with gemstones, gold and diamonds. Things became difficult for his people. His officials had to raise taxes. Finally, people could not bear his luxurious way of life. He was overthrown by his people and was executed.

The story tells us that if we don’t control our wanting, it will expand from this to that and get bigger and bigger. The ivory chopsticks caused a lot of trouble for the king and his people. We must get rid of wanting or control it. Otherwise wanting will destroy our life like it destroyed the life of the king. For this reason, we must be aware of our mind. Don’t let it fall under the power of wanting. Because the wanting mind never knows enough. There is another Chinese story, from the book called ‘Siawfu’, which explains this well. Here is the story:

There was once a man who met a great master along the way. He helped the great master with everything. The great master wanted to give him something in return and he had a very special finger. When he pointed his finger at any stone, it would turn into gold. As the man watched, he pointed his finger at a stone and the stone turned into gold and he gave to the man. The man, however, was not satisfied with just a small gold stone. He asked the great master to point his finger at a rock which was bigger than the stone. The great master did this and then asked him, “Are you satisfied with this?” He said softly, “No sir.” The great master was very kind, so he asked him, “What will satisfy you, then?” He said softly, “If I can have your finger, sir, then I will be satisfied.”

This story shows that human beings have wanting which never ends. They go on wanting and wanting. I am sure that there are many more stories which tell jokes about human wanting. When we read them, we might laugh at how greedy human beings are. But when we consider our story seriously, I am sure that we don’t find it a laughing matter. Because it is serious, you know. Wanting, or greed is fatal. Be aware of it! Cut it off at the beginning! Don’t let it grow in you, because it will harm you!