需要和欲望是兩個很容易被混淆的概念。需要是指維持基本的生活水平必需的事物或行動，而欲望則是指想要擁有的東西或做的事情，但不是必要的。例如食物是我們的需要，而豪華大餐就是欲望。如果無法辨別自己的需要和欲望，我們可能會花費大量的時間和金錢去滿足欲望，而忽略了需要。
過去由於需要沒有及時被滿足，使我們形成了很多欲望，這些欲望是一種虛假的需要。我們越是想要，就越會變得難以滿足，因而感到空虛。空虛很像一個無底洞，我們每拋下一些東西，就產生一次對空洞的恐懼感，這會迫使我們越拋越多。
這裡有一個小故事：倉鼠譏笑螞蟻：“可憐的螞蟻們，為了屯集這麽一點糧食，你們千辛萬苦地勞動，忙了整整一個夏天。這樣值得嗎？該讓你們看看我的儲備！” 有隻螞蟻回答：“聽著，因為你儲藏的糧食比你所需要的多得多，人類會把你從泥土裡挖出來，掏空你的糧倉，讓你為貪婪行為付出生命的代價。這樣才公平！”
這個故事提醒我們，必須運用理性來辨別需要和欲望。我們的需要種類和數量都不多，滿足後會感覺平靜和喜悅。欲望非常廣泛，不但無法滿足，更會使我們陷入空虛的感覺中，引發損害生命的行為。因此，需要是生命的基礎，而欲望卻是自我的懸崖。
當我們知道，需要能帶來平靜與安寧，欲望卻會帶來焦慮和躁動，那麽，一間小屋、少量食物和衣服，以及一個愛人，我們就心滿意足了。外在的物質，佔有太多必然變成負擔。即使是追求精神上的事情，太多欲望也會讓我們誤入歧途，甚至失去生命。唯一例外的只有意識。意識越多，我們越能滿足自己的需要並減少欲望，而讓身心更加健康。
把追求物質和精神的欲望，轉為真正的求知欲，我們的欲望無底洞才會被填平。求知欲讓我們了解世界，知識讓意識增長，使我們接受世間的一切，心靈變得豐富。當心靈不再空虛，我們的關注點就會回到生命的真實需要上。
34. 毫不猶疑的接受 (上一篇)
36. 了解客觀的生命意義 (下一篇)
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The path to Tranquility (35)
Distinguish between needs and desires
Needs and desires are two concepts that are easily confused. Needs refer to things or actions that are necessary to maintain a basic standard of living, while desires refer to things or actions that we want but are not necessary. For example, food is our need, and a luxurious meal is our desire. If we are unable to distinguish between our needs and desires, we may spend a lot of time and money satisfying our desires while ignoring our needs.
In the past, because our needs were not satisfied in a timely manner, we developed many desires, which are false needs. The more we want, the harder it becomes to satisfy, and we feel empty as a result. Emptiness is like a bottomless pit, and every time we throw something into it, we feel the fear of emptiness, which forces us to throw more and more.
Here is a little story: The hamster laughed at the ants: "Poor ants, in order to collect such a small amount of food, you have worked so hard for a whole summer. Is it worth it? I should show you my reserves!" An ant replied: "Listen, because you store much more food than you need, humans will dig you out of the soil, empty your granary, and make you pay for your greedy behavior with your life. That's only fair!"
This story reminds us that we must use reason to distinguish between needs and desires. Our needs are not many in type or quantity, and we feel calm and joyful when they are satisfied. Desires are very wide-ranging and not only cannot be satisfied, but they can also cause us to fall into a feeling of emptiness and lead to behaviors that damage our lives. Therefore, needs are the foundation of life, but desires are the cliff of ego.
When we know that needs bring peace and tranquility, while desires bring anxiety and restlessness, then a small house, a small amount of food and clothing, and a loved one are enough to make us content. External material possessions, if too many, will inevitably become a burden. Even if we pursue spiritual things, too many desires can lead us astray and even cause us to lose our lives. The only exception is consciousness. The more conscious we are, the more we can satisfy our needs and reduce our desires, making our body and mind healthier.
By turning our pursuit of material and spiritual desires into a true desire for knowledge, our bottomless pit of desires can be filled. The desire for knowledge allows us to understand the world, knowledge increases our consciousness, allows us to accept everything in the world, and enriches our souls. When our souls are no longer empty, our focus will return to the true needs of life.
On June 25, 2023
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