The Buddhist philosophy directly and squarely places the blame of suffering on desire. It is desire that is the root of all suffering. Take desire off the equation, all suffering also ends.
Although it may sound too dire or exaggerated, there is a great sense of wisdom in it. The Buddhist thought rationally helps one understand this connection between human desire and untold suffering prevalent in the world, especially in one's own personal life. Therefore Buddha's own simple path: detachment. No desire or attachment towards anything at all - not even detachment itself!
The greater the plans and ambitions, the greater the toil and the consequent joy (on fulfilling the plan) or suffering (at failing to live out the plan). And the comedy of human life is such that no matter what the outcome of the plan, we don't give up desiring!! At the most, we desire something else. But never do we totally renounce everything! Perhaps this counter dimension is what Arthur Schopenhauer was driving at.
These are the most rabid thoughts playing out on my mind, as we enter a week-long string of meetings. We have mega plans, and I personally am almost certain that we are biting more than what we can chew. So I'm not pinning my hopes on achieving much, leave along even to convince our confreres of half of what we want them to change or plan for this academic year. Nonetheless, there is also a sense of calmness within, that what we are doing is truly a selfless animation for the good of the province. And that it is God's work, so he's actually responsible. If he has other plans, I'd rather be open to his plan rather than stubbornly hold on to what I hold clear and sure.
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