The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart.
24 November 2025
Human greed is never ending. Having just finished a meal, we already want to eat again upon hearing someone mentioning about delicious food. If we want to stop ourselves, we have to use reasons. Why do we want to eat again? We just finished eating and we are full. The food is still being digested. Wait till tomorrow if we really want to eat it. This is an example of how we use reasons to stop our craving.
Never ending desire is what causes problems for all of us. If everyone thinks rationally, we all can live peacefully on this planet. The world has plenty of everything, more than we ever need. However, due to unrelenting greed, it feels like we never have enough.
We think that the more we have, the happier we will be.
This creates problems.
Wars occur because of greed. If everyone is a Buddhist, people can live peacefully together.
There is no need to invade other countries or to take advantage of other people. We, Buddhists, live and eat in simple ways. We do not take too much food. We are content with what we have. We eat only what our bodies’ need. We consume only what is necessary.
Two sets of white garments are enough. We can wear them alternately. Today we wear this set. Tomorrow we wear the second set while we wash the first set. On the following day, we change again.
Monks use only three pieces of garments.
They consist of an inner robe, an outer robe and a double-layer outer robe for use during the cold season.
Normally, only two pieces are used. If we live according to the Buddha’s teachings, we do not need much. There is no need for closets to keep our clothing.
However, in reality people have so many kinds of clothing for various uses, such as morning dress, daytime dress, evening dress, and nightgown. These clothes need to be cleaned and taken care of. This gives rise to all kinds of problems because we don’t think rationally, and not know how much or how many is enough for us.
If we think wisely and logically, we will live peacefully together in this world. Real happiness is within us. It is having peace of mind.
Unfortunately, we never keep the mind under control.
We allowed it to be dragged by the force of our kilesas that cause so much suffering and pain, pain from greed, pain from anger, and pain from delusion.
The Buddha says our mind is aroused and agitated by what we see, hear, smell, taste and touch. When we see or hear something, we immediately want it. When we have this desire, we become restless. On the other hand, if we are rational and follow the Buddha’s teachings, we can tell our mind not to blindly want things.
In this world, no matter how much money we have, be it in the millions or billions, we can never buy the kind of happiness, which the Buddha points out to us. That kind of happiness is inside us. We only have to make it happen. We will then be free from all kinds of problems.
We can be forever happy because when we have this kind of happiness we can keep it. It is truly our own possession. Other belongings can be stolen. They can deteriorate. Cars can be stolen. Thieves can break into our houses.
Even our husbands and our wives will one day leave us.
But no one can take from us the happiness that comes from having peace of mind.
I would like you to think about this, keep it close to your heart and mind, and to strive with all of your might to achieve the real kind of happiness that arises from a peaceful mind.
“Sensual Pleasures Are Painful.”
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
YouTube: Dhamma in English.
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