ing perfectly balanced, they are naturally centered in the Middle
Way. Having no desires, no expectations, and no longings, they
take no enjoyment from worldly pleasures, which merely agitate
the heart and cause frustration. Always imperturbable, they expe-
rience only an exquisite, serene happiness that contrasts sharply
with the happiness of those whose hearts are corrupted by worldly
concerns. Such mundane happiness, being ambiguous and fluctu-
ating, is always fleeting, and unreliable. It resembles murky, muddy
water. It’s like food that’s spicy, sour, bland, and salty all at once.
Besides causing indigestion and uncomfortable drowsiness, it is
not very appetizing. So people should carefully examine the things
they encounter every day and test them to discover which ones
are advantageous and which are not. Then they can filter out the
unwholesome elements and prevent them from piling up in their
hearts until their numbers overwhelm and there is no room to
store them all. Otherwise, wherever they look, they will see only
this accumulation of misery that they’ve collected.
When it comes to self-discipline, the wise are much more
clever than we are. Everything they do, say, or think is directed
precisely toward achieving their intended objective. They are not
at odds with the Truth, nor arrogant or conceited about their
achievements. When cautioned, they quickly take the warning
to heart as a useful lesson, which is quite different from the way
the rest of us react. By following the example of the wise, we will
become reasonable, moderate people who refuse to follow those
desires that have ruled over our hearts for so long. Our efforts to
overcome those desires will thus transform our hearts in a way
that definitely results in a degree of contentment that’s clearly evi-
dent to us. Even without millions in the bank, our own exemplary
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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