The Four Needs

It has been said by the masters that we have only four needs. They are water, food, medicine, and shelter. Everything else is superfluous. For a wandering monk, this is true and we would be well to remember it. However, since few of us are wandering monks, we may have more needs. The difference is to discern needs from wants. We have to be careful with wants. They are like the wild horse that wants to break out of the corral and run. Chasing after this wild horse, causes us exhaustion and frustration because we cannot run as fast as it does. Even if we catch it, it soon eludes us again and causes us to chase even further after it.