A lot of Buddhist references recently. 

Last night, I explained to David the philosophy of Buddhism. Can't remember how it came up exactly but I know it had something to do with my dad. I was explaining how one becomes a buddha, an "enlightened one." One has to relieve oneself of all desire. When you relieve yourself of desire, then you relieve yourself from suffering. Desire leads to suffering. From what I've observed in my 25 years of life, human nature is incompatible with Buddhism. One has to very active and conscious to just let things go. It is not human nature to just let things go. And that is why very, very few people achieve enlightenment. 

Buddhism teaches that all things are temporary. There is no truer statement. Everything, everything is temporary. So why suffer when we lose things, people, health? When it is all temporary. 

Way easier said than done. 

Buddhist monks are the closest humans can get to enlightenment. They live their lives without material wants. They eat whatever is given to them through charity. Food is sustenance, not desire. 

What I love about Buddhism is that it recognizes that most of mankind cannot live up to this. So there is The Middle Path. The middle between poverty and luxury. I love The Middle Path. It is a huge part of who I am, it is a huge part of my value system. I want a clean, smooth-running, reliable car - not a luxury car. I want a comfortable, brightly lit, warm home - not a mansion. I want a well-made, quality purse - not a closet full of purses. 

Explaining this to David rekindled my passion for Buddhism. We need to explore it more together because I desperately want Buddhism in our lives and our future children's lives. 

Then today on facebook, 2 posts that were Buddhism-related. 

First was by Connie, "Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.” 
― Dalai Lama XIV

Never heard that quote before, but related to the idea of not desiring. David and I confess a need for each other as well as our love for each other. I have thought about the negative repercussions of this. Not to be morbid, but I do sometimes think about how I would cope if he were to die young. And I admit I don't think I will cope well. Precisely for the reason Dalai Lama is mentioning here. I don't think my need for him exceeds my love for him, but it is a very strong need. We are a very co-dependent couple. 

Second was by Marie, the mother of my former student with autism, who is now a very dear friend: "Be happy for no reason, like a child. If you are happy for a reason, you're in trouble, because that reason can be taken from you." - Deepak Chopra. What poetry. I have never heard a quote with a message like this. I'm on The Middle Path with this quote. I really am the kind of person who smiles when they walk just because the full moon looked pretty in that early morning sky when the sun is almost starting to rise, just because that dog is so cute, just because I look forward to seeing my husband. I believe this trait is genetic as well as learned, my mom and most of my mom's side of the family are just cheerful fucking people. They just love to laugh. While my dad's side is much more serious and solemn. On the other hand, I can pinpoint many reasons for me to be happy: I married the right man, I'm going to be a doctor, I'm going to be financially comfortable, I'm healthy. Would I be as happy as I am now if I were missing any or all of those things? I don't believe so. I would be less happy. But, will I still be happy? Probably. I was happy before I met David and got accepted to medical school. But not as much as now. I've always been healthy, I don't know what it's like to not be healthy, thus I don't know what I'll be like if that were ever taken away from me.