Approaching the final verses on meditation, the text now summarises the result of physical and mental craving if we allow it to determine our life and relationships. Here we are given a skilful way to attain happiness: the text points out once again that the placing others first in every situation and putting their needs before our own is the only way to contentment. Our never-ending grasping to satisfy our own desire for comfort, Rinpoche says, will lead to an attitude of self protection, me first, and never bring what we ultimately search for: peace, and contentment.
The text also reminds us that being demanding or over-desirous of perfection leads to an unhappy mind, regardless of our circumstance. Even a person with plenty of material things will keep searching and not be satisfied unless they understand that there is nothing to be gained or lost.
Dissatisfaction with our experience lies at the heart of suffering, when we believe we are missing something and we continue to search for what our mind tells us is lacking; so without placing the needs of others before our own and without recognising the insubstantiality of phenomena, our grasping mind is never satiated and contentment will always be out of reach.
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