Buddhism has taught me that the simple things can lead to health and happiness

“We need the insight that position, revenge, wealth, fame, or possessions are, more often than not, obstacles to our happiness. We need to cultivate the wish to be free of these things so we can enjoy the wonders of life that are always available- the blue sky, the trees, our beautiful children.”

One of the nutriments is the desire in us to obtain anything we want. When people create desires in life, they tend to put all their effort into obtaining their desire. Unfortunately, desires such as fame, wealth, revenge, and possessions can lead to suffering.

People have trouble getting past the second noble truth because they don't see money and possessions as being the cause of their suffering. Instead, most people will look to fill the void with more possessions. It can bring them relative happiness but what they fail to see truthfully, is that their relative happiness is causing them absolute suffering. It becomes a vicious cycle and unfortunately a lot of people will never make it past the second noble truth of recognition. I have been able to see how brutal this cycle is and I have taken these ideas and incorporated them into my own life. 

Another nutriment the Buddha spoke about is edible food. It is so important to have Right View when it comes to what we eat and drink. Processed foods and high amounts of fat and sugar can cause suffering for the body. However, proper whole food diets can do amazing things for our health and well-being. By focusing our diet on eating foods that are natural, we

can create an interconnection with the Earth. This is one of the Buddha’s main ideas. We are all connected and what we say and do affects everyone and everything else. It seems so simple but most people do not recognize what they eat as being the cause of their suffering. Either that or they recognize it but do not care to get rid of it. A healthy, balanced diet can be delicious and so rewarding for the body and mind. 

Through the Buddha’s teachings, I have learned that it is important to keep an open

mind when recognizing my sufferings. What this has ultimately led me to is what has not caused me suffering. Good health, food, music, art, friendships, and family have all led me to absolute happiness. I will admit that I have received relative happiness from fame and fortune but this type of happiness is only temporary. It’s so much easier and enlightening to aim for absolute happiness in the world because it is found in the simplest things and ideas.