In a famous exchange with a farmer, the Buddha
showed the persistent and pernicious nature
of desire, the cause of all dukkha (suffering).

The farmer said to the Buddha: "I like farming,
but there are lots of problems. Sometimes it rains
too much and my crops get flooded out. Sometimes
it rains too little and they dry up..."

The Buddha listened attentively until the farmer
finished and changed the subject. "I love my wife,"
he said, "but she's far from perfect. Sometimes she's
cold to me for no reason at all. Sometimes she's so
passionate that she wears me out..."

Again the Buddha listened patiently until the farmer
changed subject again. "My children are wonderful,"
he rattled, "but they're always giving me trouble.
Sometimes they fight with each other and break things.
Sometimes they conspire against me..."

And so it went for quite a while, the Buddha listening
quietly and the man continuing to complain. Finally the
farmer finished speaking, the Buddha said: "There's nothing
I can do to help you, farmer. We've all got eighty-three
problems, and that's that. Maybe you can take care of one,
but another one is bound to take its place. And some
persist, for example, your farm, your wife, your children,
even yourself - all will eventually pass away, and there's
nothing you can do about it."

The farmer was outraged and said: "You're supposed to be a
great teacher! What good is that teaching?"

The Buddha replied: "It may help you with the eighty-fourth
problem."

"What on earth is the eighty-fourth problem?" asked the farmer.

"You want not to have any problems," replied the Buddha.

Have you been listening to Alan Watts ?  [:D]

Ahhh Grasshoppah, alan Watts was a mere mortal!