"Sense impressions are the kind of food that we take in with our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Certain kinds of music, newspaper articles, films, websites, electronic games, and even conversations can contain a lot of toxins like craving, violence, hatred, insecurity, fear, and so on. Consuming these kinds of poisons harms our mind and also our body.
"Volition is our deep motivation, our deepest desires; it's the energy that moves us day and night to do the things we do. Meditation includes looking deeply into the nature of these deepest desires. If a desire is coming from a beautiful ideal, like ending poverty, hatred, and division among individuals, groups, and nations or promoting liberty, democracy, human rights, and social justice, that is a wholesome volition that can bring happiness to us and to the world. The desire to practice to transform afflictions in us such as violence, hatred, and despair, and generate more love, understanding, and reconciliation, is a good desire to have. When we are able to realize such aspirations in our own life, we can help other people in society to do the same. This is a wholesome kind of volition.
"If, instead, we're being driven by an urge to punish and take revenge on those who've hurt us or to destroy those we believe to be our enemies, that is a harmful volition. If our motivation is just to get lots and lots of money, power, fame, and sex, this type of volition will also bring suffering. Our happiness depends largely on what kind of volition we're picking up on and acting out. Running after objects of craving can do a lot of damage to our body and mind."
