Attachment is the root cause of our suffering.

 Its the mind that creates the suffering.

For 7 years I lived in this old rotted portacabin. I moved here because I was practically homeless after my father passed away. I had very little money and had just been made bankrupt also.

When I first moved in I was still an alcoholic and used to wake up on the floor of this cabin riddled with many negative emotions.

I didnt even have a shower or curtains, I used some of my mattress stock to cover up the windows. My mind was tormented!

There are a few ways I could have went back then, jail, death or get into a bit of planting and chanting and follow the Buddha path with devotion as best as I can.

You know when your backed into a corner like this your capable of anything.

What was really the icing on the cake back then was my good mate at the time, we were working on this dodgy business deal that was to put me back up high on the monopoly status. 100k I was to get and he robbed me! I never forget it. 

Looking back he did me the biggest favour ever though. He gave me the greatest motivation at that time to change. Just when things couldn't get any worse he then did that on me. 

My other mates that were in on this deal wanted revenge, I wanted revenge also. 

But I had just been dipping my toes into Buddhism back then, not fully committed but the path was put in front of me. 

If he hadn't of robbed me that money would have carried on fuelling my bad habits. I was also placed with a massive test to my spiritual path too. I see it happen a lot though, when people begin to awaken and want to become a better person something always comes about to try and drag you back into darkness.

That day I choose Buddha and have never looked back.

But this book I'm reading in the pic just came to me at the time, I read it everyday.

I chanted and made nature offerings daily by planting trees also.

I set out to try and help people around me more doing goods deeds and did my prayers and rituals every day.

Reading this book though made me see that all my suffering was my own doing, it was me that created the darkness and this book gave me the faith and belief that I can create the light.

I used to read it and felt the hairs on my neck stand.

7 years later living in this cabin and what was once the most depressing place ever become my little sanctuary that I was sad to leave just last year.

Buddhism for me is a science of the mind. Our mind creates all the suffering and problems.

I always think back to when I was 17 and full of enthusiasm living in a tiny room in a council estate. I had drive and ambition like you wouldn't believe.

Every day I wheeled and dealed at everything and anything to get rich!

I was richer than most by the time I was 21 and by the time I was 25 Mara the tempter as they call him in Buddhism had me in chains. I was so rich but locked in attachments to money, assets, addictions and many more selfish desires. My mind was far from free!

Attachment is the root cause of suffering is what the Buddha says.

At around 30 years old the negative karma that I created living in selfishness and greed was beginning to ripen. I went on a downward spiral that lasted years and lost everything.

I moved back into the bedroom where I grew up taking sleeping tablets daily hiding from life in depression.

I think about this situation a lot. About how the mind created all the suffering.

When I was 17 in the same position with nothing to my name I was full of life. After acquiring all the toys and tinsel of the world and making it big time then losing it all and being put back in the same bedroom I was suicidal. What had really changed?

Why did I not have the same enthusiasm after losing everything and going back into the same bedroom as I did when I was 17!

The mind made up a whole load of suffering due to selfish attachments.

I am absolutely fascinated and inspired by Buddhism. one day I aim to find that stillness of the mind and see the illusions of life for what it really is. To be a humble observer of this passing cosmic movie.

Meditate - phantom plant - chant and do good deeds!

Peace and love

The Phantom Planter