A good friend and I were talking about current affairs recently, and he made the observation that envy is the most prevalent emotion experienced by humans, and this chap would know. I wasn’t surprised, given the nature of the economic system we exist in. As someone trying to lead an examined life I have seen its influence within diminish greatly as I age. I count myself lucky that I have always been attracted to the immaterial world, but, as the Buddhist’s say, I am also a householder with familial and societal duties. I feel fortunate that I so love the pursuit of wisdom and spiritual truths because practically, it has shielded me from the worst ravages of envy, and it’s accompanying suffering. I mean, why would I envy someone or something that I know is slowly disappearing before my eyes? My body is slowly disappearing, the Sun is slowly disappearing, it’s all disappearing! I think most people get that, on an intellectual level, but because the material/empirical combination is so powerful, envy will be powerful.
I really don’t have too much mental or emotional energy to waste on stupid negative emotions today. Don’t get me wrong, I have loads of energy, I’m just being very careful about where it goes, because in the courtroom of oblivion…
Denis Magee 