Nothing Is Missing

A reflection on how the belief that something is lacking drives compulsive seeking, and how recognizing that nothing is actually missing clarifies which impulses to follow and which to let go.

If I think something is missing, then I am blinded. I am caught in the "how to live" mode, trying to fix something, trying to get something that feels absent but is not actually absent.

The core of spiritual teaching

This is why a lot of spiritual teachings point to these two things. More contemporary teachings especially highlight what is really at the core: nothing is missing. The kingdom of heaven is here and all around you. It is inside you. It is outside you.

When that is seen, you may not know what to do, but there is a lot more understanding about what you should not follow, because those impulses are all about getting something you already have.