Let's start by stating that I am not a Buddhist. I do, however, appreciate much of what Buddhism has to offer. The Noble Eight Fold path is of course the basis of Buddhist teachings:
However, being raised in materialistic/capitalistic America, I have always struggled to follow that path. Of course the goal is to recognize that life is suffering and pursue enlightenment to release oneself from the illusions of life to help end suffering.
Well, my suffering was caused by having to look at my neighbor's ugly white plastic fence and his consistently unkept yard.
He never cleaned his fence, cut his grass, or did any weeding or yard work. The best I could hope for was that he would cut his grass once a year.
Now, admittedly, I am obsessed with yard work. I know my efforts will never be permanent and its all just an illusion that will revert back to nature once I am no longer around to manage the appearance of my perception of beauty. Nevertheless, I do so love weeding, planting, and general yard and garden work. It is like meditation to me. I can do it all day without complaint. However, I just could not free myself from the struggle to ignore the ugliness of the neighbor's property. It ate at my soul and was preventing me from attaining even a false sense of enlightenment.
So, unable to adhere to most of the tenants of the Noble Eight Fold Path, I instead pursued my own Selfish Six Fold Path:
- build a fence
- have six 8' panels
- fill the panels with solid cedar boards
- hide the view of the ugly plastic fence
- add new plants to beautify the viewing and stroll gardens
- end my suffering and enjoy the new view
