Transforming Desire into Liberation: Practical Wisdom from the Second Noble Truth

Understanding the nature of selfish desire, craving, and attachment is fundamental to discovering relief from suffering.

Ignorance is Bliss?

Cypher in the movie The Matrix, decided it was preferable to live a life of illusion than endure the harsh truths of reality.

The matrix had pleasures, and people could delude themselves into believing they are important, powerful, and loved and admired by others — even if none of it were true.

In the short term, ignorance has benefits. Fleeting satisfaction from worldly pleasures briefly satisfies the mind. However, satiation is short-lived, and the longing for more and dissatisfaction returns over and over again. Further, if worldly pleasures are lost and unavailable, people suffer from the longing for what they can’t have.

See: The Downside of Beauty, Fame, and Wealth: The Illusion of Happiness and Fulfillment in Worldly Attainments