Balanced Existence

Nayanaponik Thera observed that “by this practice, attachment to likes and dislikes will be reduced and thereby an inner space will be provided for the growth of the finer emotions and virtues: for loving-kindness and compassion, for contentment, patience and forbearance.” Such finer emotions and virtues surely represent a fine base from which skillful intent and actions in the world can occur. It is the gradual replacement of unskillful intentions and acts with skillful ones in Buddhism that puts an end to the generation of negative karma and suffering.

It may interest you to know that Buddhism contains a formulation of the root cause of all suffering in the world. The idea being that if you know what the root cause of suffering is that root can be removed and all suffering averted. The root cause is known in Buddhism as the Three Poisons (doshas). The three poisons are greed (raga), hatred (dvesa) and delusion (moha). These three poisons are seen as three fundamental aspects of selfish craving causing suffering.