Happiness & Distress

The human body is endowed with five senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. When these senses interact with their respective sense objects, they can bring either pleasure or pain. For instance, the taste of delicious food brings pleasure, while the taste of unpalatable food brings distress. However, both feelings of happiness and distress that arise from sensory experiences are fleeting. If we allow ourselves to be constantly swayed by these sensory perceptions, we'll find ourselves oscillating like a pendulum, constantly shifting from one extreme to another. Therefore, to maintain balance in life, it's essential to cultivate the principle of tolerance toward these sensory perceptions. Just as we endure the heat of summer until the arrival of the refreshing coolness of winter, we continue with our tasks without pause. Similarly, distress is inevitably followed by happiness. By learning not to be disturbed or carried away by either distress or happiness, we can achieve equilibrium in our lives.