Dukha.

"All life is unsatisfactory." - The Buddha.

The condition that the Buddha called dukha or unsatisfactory is the result of a lack of love in our lives which is caused by closed or hardened hearts.

We experience this feeling as children and assume that this is the normal condition.

If we examine our experience closely we will find that the difference between feeling O.K. and not feeling O.K. corresponds exactly with the presence or absence of love in our life.

What we seek is not mind powers or knowledge but love.

What do we benefit from power or knowledge if we have not love?

What do we benefit from possessions or wealth if we have not love?

What is adulation or fame but a pale facsimile of love?

All sex is looking for love.


What causes us to close our hearts but fear?
Fear of ridicule.
Fear of rejection.
Fear of violence.

What is jealousy but fear of losing love?

What causes us to harden our hearts but fear?
Fear of strangers.
Fear of violence.
Fear of crime.


What causes us to open our hearts but tears for our brothers' and sisters' suffering.

In the end our lives are not so much about the state of our minds as the condition of our hearts.

"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'"  Matthew 22:37 (NRSV)
"'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"  Matthew 22:39 (NRSV)


(Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.)

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