Deep Commentary

Avarice or greed is identified as the root of all human suffering. The Buddha teaches that while the world is full of desires—for wealth, beauty, and status—the pursuit of these cravings leads to exhaustion and cycles of misery. Human desire is inherently limitless, yet the material resources available to satisfy it are finite, creating an unbridgeable gap that results in perpetual agitation. Modern life, with its relentless pursuit of material success, often traps individuals in a cycle where they become slaves to their possessions, sacrificing peace, family time, and health for ephemeral gains. Ultimately, one cannot take these material achievements beyond death; they are as fleeting as a dream. True happiness, as emphasized in this verse, comes from living without the burden of avarice. This does not mean abandoning the basic necessities of life, but rather practicing 'contentment' (appicchatā and santuṭṭhi). A practitioner lives simply, focusing on spiritual nourishment and inner peace rather than external validation. By choosing a path of simplicity and detachment, one remains unaffected by the highs and lows of the world, finding tranquility that is independent of material circumstances.