Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘Craving has arisen for a reason. It’s not a “thing” of itself. In the light of interbeing, we have a chance to get curious about it. Sometimes I even ask myself, “Who is reaching for something to cover up the pain?” These questions become like koans. In my practice, I’ve discovered that my craving for food comes from my paternal grandfather. And sometimes, the sudden wish for a strong drink comes not so much from me (I haven’t drunk alcohol for over a decade), but from my paternal grandmother seeking something, anything, to numb her pain.

Consuming has, for many generations, become a form of pain management. So if we want to shift these habits, there’s a lot of energy we’re up against, but just knowing the scale of it already makes the challenge more navigable.’ (from Lion’s Roar)