The Prisoner

Posted: March 2, 2008 | Author: Doug | Filed under: Buddhism, Jodo Shinshu, Religion, Theravada | Leave a comment »

While in the car today with the family*, I heard the old song, Hotel California, by the Eagles. I was struck by this line: …she said we are all just prisoners here, of our own device.

This statement really stuck in my mind all afternoon. I can’t help but think that this applies to all of us. The desires, and the hassles they bring, just trap us further. It’s like we’re stifled and smothered by our own needs. Just think of all the time and effort we put into accumulating a nest of things to numb the pain of life. We have to work a job so that we can continue the upkeep needed to keep ourselves happy. We’re not far removed from a heroin junkie, when you think about it.

Being at the mall, seeing so many people spending their time in pursuit of material happiness, none of it lasting happiness, I realized that we’re all just trapped animals in a cage we can’t see. Some of the folks around me were trapped in low-paying jobs they obviously didn’t like. Others, the young, hip and fashionable hid their own insecurities behind their appearance.

I am a prisoner of my own devices, and so are you. Death will not help this either, because we will just be born again in another life, forced to go through the whole ordeal again. As another line in the song says: You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!

I believe this is what the Buddha taught as saṃsāra: the aimless wandering and the endless cycle of existence.**

Namuamidabu

* – Buying new shoes for Baby. She’s taking her first steps and needs some real shoes suited for walking.

** – While explaining this to my wife earlier, she was quick to remind me that what I described is also known as bonnō (煩悩) in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism: the feverish passion that defines our existence. She’s always two steps ahead of me. :p

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