Saturday, July 31, 2021
How satisfying is a nutritious and tasty meal, when you’re really hungry! As desire grows, so does the appreciation and satisfaction of its eventual alleviation. Intensity of satisfaction directly correlates to the intensity of desire. There must be room for absence, for subtraction, for emptiness. All of the great spiritual teachers taught of the benefits of meditation (emptying of the mind), and of fasting (allowing hunger to develop an edge).
Fondness and appreciation of others grows, when you spend time alone. We often will soften the edge of desire by having a perpetual feast in the “buffet” of life’s choices, readily and conveniently available. But you don’t want everything on the buffet, do you? You can’t have it all anyway. You have to pay attention to what fills your pallet, what makes you happy, and what helps you cherish that remaining time you have on earth. Developing a craving helps you make wiser choices.
Let your hunger grow, not to the point of starvation or deprivation, but to help you appreciate and cherish it’s relief. Don’t gratify yourself either, by jumping in too quickly. Pause, think and choose the right time to indulge in what you know is good for you, what’s nourishing, and what’s life-giving. Don’t gratify, but satisfy. Be patient while your cravings intensify. Tolerate the hunger for a while, and allow it to lead you to just the right choice. See where the itch is coming from, allow it to develop an edge, then scratch it. Chew and taste your “food” slowly, especially if you’ve allowed hunger to deepen. Sexual desire too, if allowed to intensify, will only lead to better love-making with your partner. Cherishing the absence of everything is what allows you to become fond of everything and everyone that is a part of your life. Subtract more, and gain less. Get hungry before you eat. Let the pang of desire well up, without your impatience, and when you do “feed” yourself, you will cherish the precious treasure of real satisfaction.