Whether in this life or in the entire cycle of rebirth, we have three major problems: The first is the mind of greediness. Because of greed for wealth, fame and material goods, we invariably get tangled up with these. This greed has become one of the most critical facets of the world of samsara. The second is the selfish mind. Selfishness is indeed a real, serious issue in that we pursue our own self-interest at the expense of others. The last is attachment, which is the most serious—persistently holding on to everything and worrying about our own gain and loss as far as whatever we are attached to.


Owing to these three harmful states, we have been caught in the world of samsara and unable to attain liberation. The door to overcoming these problems is to practice the genuine Dharma.

~ Luminous Wisdom Book Series 7