Clinging to exaggerated appearance interferes with the ability to see the ultimate nature of the object…
When strong desire overwhelms the mind, it hinders the ability to see reality clearly.
It clings to the exaggerated appearance of the object of desire as always, truly, in and of itself good.
Having applied the good qualities of the object and labeled it “good”, you believe you see it as something good in and of itself and cling to it.
Clinging to the exaggerated appearance interferes with the ability to see the ultimate nature of the object.
When this happens, instead of looking at the object, person or thing you want, you should observe the subject, your mind.
Just observe your mind.
Change the object of attention from external (the object you are projecting) to internal (the projecting mind).
Instead of thinking about the object, observe the mind thinking about the object.
When you practice this very simple meditation, an immediate change occurs.
Suddenly the unbearable desire can be stopped.
There is space in your mind to see the true nature of yourself and the object of your desire.
When you do this, even for a moment, the desiring mind begins to be controlled, pacified, tamed.
You follow it for the purpose of attaining fulfillment.
It is meritorious and you are right to want to achieve it, but the method is wrong and only leads to dissatisfaction.
You follow it and you are not satisfied.
Again you follow and again you are not satisfied.
Again you try and again you are not satisfied.
When I tell you to give up desire, it may sound like I am telling you to give up happiness, but that is not the case.
If you really looked at it and at the objects, you would see that although they appear to be pleasures, there is no real pleasure in them.
But suppressing desire does not mean suppressing all happiness.
In fact, when you give up, you open yourself up to true happiness in the only way possible.
Because you may not yet have experienced true happiness, you mistake the subtle suffering of desire for true peace, but once you understand the infinite benefits of renouncing selfishness and desire, this kind of renunciation is a joyful act.
