Candy
I like candy. Perhaps you like candy too. Candy is good but too much candy leads to problems. If we have too much candy in our practice, we can get cavities. Too much means we fall in love with our practice. Practice is for practicing. It is not for falling in love. If we are in love, we do not see clearly. We overlook things. Candy can also make us fat, lazy, and content. It is important to have a hunger. We must have the hunger to go deep into our practice. If we are content with only the surface, we do not get to the depths where real enlightenment can be found. A shallow, superficial practice comprised of convenience and contentment does not lead us anywhere we want to go. Sometimes the bitter things are what make us better. Life is not all candy and balloons. If our practice is candy and balloons, we cannot handle the bitter parts well. We begin expecting everything to be sweet. Candy melts and balloons get popped. We have to be ready to be strong during those times.
