Have you ever noticed how hours can crawl by on Monday morning, yet a weekend getaway disappears in a blink? In the words of the renowned theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, “Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.” Time, a concept ingrained in our lives and humanity, remains both ubiquitous and enigmatic, one of humanity's greatest mysteries. It is as though it is abundant yet slips through our grasp as if watching a summer sunset bleed into twilight or the last sip of a perfect cup of coffee. The moments stretch, then vanish, leaving only a bittersweet echo. We currently find ourselves at the end of the first month, a whole eleven months to the start of a new year, yet before we know it, this year will dissolve into another. Decades may pass unnoticed, and without warning, our entire lives appear blurred. The ageing process reveals the exponential nature of time. Do you remember the carefree days of childhood, stretching over endless summers? The wait between our birthdays seemed like an inconceivable stretch of time. In contrast, as we age, time appears to pass at an alarming rate; the last five years feel like nothing, and our adult months blur into a rapid succession of deadlines and routines. This is because our mind tends to aggregate information together. To a five-year-old, a year is a significant portion of their life, one-fifth, while for a fifty-year-old, it diminishes to a mere fraction, one-fiftieth. As the years pile up, each one seems to shrink compared to the vastness of our past. Do you know where you want to be in the future?

Research reveals a staggering reality: a surprising 83% of the world's population lacks defined goals. Despite our understanding of the profound value of human life (as previously discussed in an earlier article), a significant portion of society appears to be navigating life without purpose, seemingly awaiting a wake-up call or a calamity. A study by Statistic Brain, delving into the statistics of New Year's goals, unveils a disheartening truth: only 8% of individuals manage to achieve their New Year's resolutions, inversely showing a substantial 92% failure rate, highlighting a worrying tendency to abandon aspirations. This contrast displays the pervasive challenge even among those who set goals. Further analysis exposes the nature of commitment. A recent survey underscores the fragility of goal perseverance: 80% of individuals successfully survive the initial week, but as time elapses, the numbers dwindle. After one month, only 64% persevere, and a mere 45% extend their efforts beyond six months. 

Imagine leaving home, embarking on a journey without a destination, wandering through the streets aimlessly, lured by enticing paths that lead to dead ends and relying on serendipity and luck to bring forth fortune. This is life without a goal. This haphazard approach often leads to the pitfalls of time wasting and procrastination, ultimately building up to dilemmas, from midlife crisis to an end-of-life crisis. Regrettably, a substantial number of us, like oblivious sheep, find ourselves ensnared in the clutches of societal norms, unable to exceed above and achieve our potential. While many may claim to have goals, the reality often differs between intention and action. Uttering desires like "I want to be rich and famous", “I want to travel the world”, or "I want to attain Nibbana" may give the appearance of goals, but in truth are mere wishes. Distinguishing between a goal and a wish is essential, as both are something you want to achieve or obtain, but there are some critical differences between the two concepts. A wish is often a thought or idea about something you want to have or do, a desire lacking a concrete plan or commitment to realisation.

Allow me to share a story of a pious, God-loving man which illustrates the fact I wish to make here, that is, wishes don’t wash dishes. A story is told of a man who once prayed to God. He drove his car to his childhood church and found a pew in the back rows of the quiet chapel. He fell to his knees, shut his eyes, opened his heart and with his hands in the air, he prayed to God.
"Dear God, please help me win the lottery. I really need the money, so please help me win."
The young man waited several days, and nothing happened. He returned to the church.
"Dear God, I'm not sure if you received my last prayer, but I really need your help to win the lottery. Please help me out here." He reasoned that he would use the money to do a lot of good and cure all diseases in the world. Again, the young man waited several days with no results. He returned to the church once again. He reasoned that he'd use the money to do a lot of good and feed all the hungry children in the world. Again, nothing happened. He prayed to God every single day for 50 years. Each time, he said the same prayer. He returned to the church for the last time. Finally, out of frustration, he shouted at the sky, "Alright, God, I've asked you for 50 years, but it really seems like you aren't listening to me. I asked you to help me win the lottery, but I still haven't won. Are you even listening to me?"
Suddenly, a celestial response echoed through the church. Breaking through the clouds, God gently boomed, "My son, I've been trying to help, but you must buy a ticket first!" The moral of this story is that wishes are OK, but they are incapable of bringing life-transforming results unless well-planned and congruent actions are taken to that effect. The reason most people’s dreams fall flat like a bird with broken wings no sooner than they set off is due to the lack of an actionable plan and the resolve to execute it. So, for all your lofty dreams to have a fair chance of succeeding, it is vital that you have a plan and keep at it until the end.

In one of our articles last month, we explored the pervasive issue of addiction, a disease that casts a shadow across countless lives. But while some see only darkness, we at Jethavanarama Monastery choose to ignite a spark of hope. After all, there is one certain way to ensure that things always remain the same – inaction! This year, we embark on a bold mission: to empower individuals and communities to rise above their addictions. It may be a lifelong battle, but every victory, every life reclaimed, is a triumph worth celebrating. These personal wins are potent arrows against the broader epidemic, paving the way for a future where we and our children inherit a world free from the chains of addiction. Let us equip the next generation with knowledge, resilience, and the unwavering belief that freedom is not a dream but a possibility within reach by leading by example. This is our aim, our ambition, and our invitation to you – join us in igniting a revolution of hope, one step, one victory at a time. So, this year, let us make the determination to eradicate addiction from our lives and free ourselves from its chains. We extend our heartfelt blessings to those committed to freeing themselves. 

In modern society, even within the most advanced civilisations, a severe crisis looms over mental health. Driven by an insatiable hunger for material gain, causing tunnel vision sidelining crucial and essential aspects of existence - our own minds and mental well-being. This oversight has fuelled a significant rise in substance use disorders, pushing a record number of individuals towards the clutches of addiction. Substance abuse is more common than one may like to believe. While the familiar demons like alcohol, nicotine, and drugs dominate the conversation, addictions take many insidious forms, silently binding countless minds to food, social media, pornography, and games. The world wages endless wars against illegal drugs, Operation Yukthiya being a valiant example. Yet, as we explored in "Timeless Pandemic," the wings of substance abuse extend far wider, encompassing nearly everyone in this day and age. This isn't a battle confined to shadowy streets; it's a silent struggle playing out within homes, schools, and even boardrooms. Professionals in mental health and regulatory bodies are actively seeking practical solutions to combat substance use disorder. Various behavioural therapies, including Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Contingency management, Motivational enhancement therapy, Family therapy, and Twelve-step facilitation (TSF), have shown promising results in treating addiction. However, it remains disheartening that despite undergoing treatment, a substantial percentage of individuals, approximately 85 per cent, relapse within a year of treatment, according to the US research body, the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Moreover, two-thirds of individuals return to drug use within weeks of beginning addiction treatment. 

Addiction finds its roots in various factors, with the mental aspect playing arguably the most crucial role. Buddhist philosophy sheds a unique light on explaining the functionality of the mind and how mental defilements contribute to the development of addictions. Despite its religious connotations, Buddhism is a complex and thoroughly comprehensive philosophy that delves deep into the nature of consciousness and the workings of the human mind. In comparison to the more conventional Western scientific and psychological approaches, Buddhist philosophy is widely regarded as refined and sophisticated. With a focus on mindful awareness, compassion, and contemplation, the teachings of Buddhism provide not just invaluable insights into the complex dynamics of the human psyche but also offer an understanding of why we gravitate towards the seductive lure of addiction.

Throughout all the articles in "The Buddha's Guide to Happiness", is a consistent theme: addressing the root of the problem rather than beating around the bush. The mind has been conditioned to chase quick fixes without truly understanding the issue. Einstein himself admitted, "I'd spend 55 minutes defining the problem before 5 minutes finding a solution," underscoring the importance of understanding the core issue before seeking solutions. Consider a knot, a messy tangle mirroring the complexities of addiction. The Jatha Sutta, one of the Buddha's teachings, uses this very analogy. Rather than delving into the sutta's details, let's focus on the knot analogy itself. Impulsively pulling at random parts of the "rope" or attempting quick fixes often tightens the knot of Sansara, making it more challenging to unravel. Instead, we must meticulously observe its interwoven strands understand how they twist and loop, and then the solution becomes apparent and straightforward. This, ironically, makes the seemingly impossible task of overcoming addiction feel surprisingly manageable. It's not about brute force but about gaining profound insight. It takes time, like examining a complex knot, but the reward is seeing your life change, free from the tangled threads of addiction. Addiction did not infiltrate our existence overnight. Overcoming it, too, requires patience and deliberate action. This series will unveil the path to untangling that knot, step by step, reminding you that true liberation takes time.

Examining many scientists' understanding of the addiction cycle and its relationship with the brain reward pathway reveals a common denominator across countless theories: four cogs that turn incessantly. The brain reward pathway comprises four components: Environment, Craving, Action, and Result. While the initial element, the environment, may appear harmless, it holds significant weight as the catalyst for all addictions. Picture strolling past a beloved fast-food joint, the tantalising aroma of Kottu or short eats swirling around you, inducing an irresistible temptation, your mouth instantly watering. Resisting feels futile. You're suddenly inside, placing your order. The environment is the cue which sets the stage, triggering a sequence of events that can feel almost autonomous. Similarly, for those addicted to their phones, witnessing someone else engrossed in their device or the simple ‘bing’ sound of notifications can ignite an irresistible craving. Our surroundings whisper temptations, priming the pump for the next phase of the cycle, craving.  Once this starts, discomforting mental pressure builds like a roaring tide. The stronger it gets, the closer it crashes against your tolerance threshold. Tolerance levels vary among individuals, as some may weather the storm for a while, but eventually, the craving breaks through. This escalation leads to the action stage, where the individual responds to the cue, seeking to satisfy the craving quickly and through any means necessary. For instance, in the case of phone addiction, this may involve purchasing a data card, even if it means going out of one's way, scrounging for change, begging money from a friend, or even pleading or cajoling the cashier, all to silence the insatiable demand for that digital fix. In that moment, it's about flooding the senses, satiating the beast within.

However, this process is not straightforward. Satisfying cravings can tempt you into a Faustian bargain, trading precious time, hard-earned money, your energy, or even some things much more sacred, like virtues and morals, for a fleeting high. But isn't that true for most desires? We chase pleasures to escape shadows of pressure, cravings like hungry ghosts gnawing at ourselves. The action of fulfilling your desires brings you pleasure, happiness, sweet relief, and a dopamine rush – it's intoxicating, yes, but like a sugar crash, it leaves you wanting more. You savour that greasy burger, savour the silence it brings, but dawn breaks, and the cycle whispers its noxious promises again. It's a seductive Sisyphean dance, pushing the boulder of desire endlessly uphill, knowing the summit holds only another descent.

While the four stages of the brain reward pathway offer a powerful lens to an age-old problem, Buddhist philosophy unveils another crucial piece: the viewpoint. We will dive deep into this missing piece in a future article. In the meantime, you are encouraged to view your own addictions through the lens of Dhamma. Shed the rose-tinted glasses of subjectivity and examine the cycle with piercing objectivity. I invite you to join us at the monastery and liberate yourselves from the thorns of addiction in the coming year. Let us embark on this journey together, creating a determination to eradicate and cultivate a life which affords the ultimate prize of unconditional happiness.