Is it within my ability? Is it proper?

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Ability means that, within the scope of your ability, you may work hard to obtain things you need, but if your ability is not sufficient, you should yield to those whose ability is and not insist.

There are many things in life that lead people to feel strong envy and craving, including fame, fortune, power, status and love. When you wish to obtain them, however, you must think carefully. Are my abilities and contributions sufficient to make me deserving of them? Are the conditions such that it can be obtained readily or is it forced?

If your contributions and abilities are insufficient and the conditions are not ripe, yet you still hope to gain it, this is craving things you do not deserve. This will only increase your pain and the harm done to you.

Turning to propriety, if we look at it based on the phrase popular with young people today, if it feels good, do it!, then we will not be able to distinguish between what is and is not proper to desire.

Most people's desires are endless. They like and want so many things. They should ask themselves: should I like these things? Should I try to obtain them? For instance, everyone likes fame, status, wealth and power, but undeserved fame is only facade, undeserved wealth is simply ill-gotten gains, undeserved status is just an act. It is improper to pursue such things. Of course if one is deserving, then obtaining it is not only blameworthy, it encourages one to make oneself still more deserving.

Actually, in our daily lives, the things we need are not many, yet the things we want are many indeed. The things we need are proper to desire. The things we merely want are unimportant.

Our starting point should be protecting the spiritual environment. On the one side, we should protect our mind from being polluted by environment and increase our immunity to such pollution. On the other hand, we should not give rise to negative states of mind such as jealousy, anger, suspicion and selfishness, which make the environment even worse.

By becoming aware of each subtle movement of our own mind, we become clearly aware of our needs and can resolve our our wants. If we all clearly understand these four criteria of for dealing with desire in the course of our life, then we will have a clear sense of direction and be able to lie peacefully.

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