A Real Education

What do we want the most?

On the surface, perhaps we would answer more of this or less of that, thinking, "If only I had more of this, then I wouldn't be in such a bad place," or, "If only I had less of that, then I wouldn't be in such a bad place." If we reflect on this line of thinking, we see clearly that what we want most is "to be in a good place". In other words, we just want to be happy. As has been stated in the lineage for thousands of years, what we want is to be happy – and therefore, what we don't want is to be unhappy! Nonetheless, we are rarely happy and often unhappy.

"Happy" and "unhappy" are too broad in their intended usage and meaning. What do we actually mean when we say we want to be happy? And conversely, what do we really mean when we say that we don't want to be unhappy? Logically, we can see the limitations of relishing for weeks on end in intoxicated pleasure pursuit or going on vacation for two years. Would we really "be in a good or better place" afterward? Would we be stronger, wiser? Would we be more clear about our purpose or about how we can make the most of our lives? What will we do when the party comes to an end? Are we prepared for it?

By "happiness", what we really mean to say is "clarity about our purpose and competence in our actions". Another way to describe "clarity and competence" is "wisdom and strength". We know through our experience and common sense that wisdom and strength don't show up randomly or out of the blue. They don't come from nowhere. Both qualities are produced, that is, they only manifest and become embodied through effort. Similarly, nothing at all can manifest without causes and the conditions that support those causes – whether outer events or inner emotions, thoughts, or motives. Therefore, if what we want most is to be happy, then understanding what types of causes and conditions actually produce happiness would become to us the most precious thing.