Our Set Up for Suffering

The word “becoming” is an innocuous little term. It doesn’t really evoke much of an image or much feeling. But the reality is that it is because of the nature of becoming that we continually experience suffering. It is why we continually experience conflict. It is why we are continually dissatisfied. Becoming is why we continually opt to be scattered, confused and stupid rather than peaceful and wise.

We can’t resist becoming; we’re suckers for becoming; we’re slaves to becoming. We don’t resist it, nor do we know how to resist it. We look for ways to justify becoming, to make it a bit more palatable, so that we are actually doing something. But all we are doing is setting ourselves up for more suffering, more becoming.

This reflection by Luang Por Pasanno is from the booklet, On Becoming and Stopping, (pdf) pp.9-10.