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"Craving is the source of suffering."

I've heard this phrase countless times, etched into my memory like a familiar tune playing on repeat. The first encounter took me back to the carefree days of my childhood, where school meant chasing friends during breaks and racing home to catch my favorite cartoons. It was in the tranquil monotony of a Monday morning Buddhism class that these words first reached my ears. Engrossed in discussions about life's intricacies, I found myself challenging my teacher's wisdom, questioning the very essence of offerings and their impact on nature. Though my inquiry momentarily dampened her spirits, she gracefully redirected me, urging me not to overanalyze.

The second encounter unfolded within the cozy confines of my childhood home, where I often found solace in the pages of Buddhist literature. As I delved deeper into the teachings, grappling with the concept of life's inherent suffering, a new question arose: if craving leads to suffering, could my longing for nirvana be another form of craving, destined to lead me down a path of anguish?

Then came the third encounter, unexpectedly surfacing amidst the mindless scroll of Instagram . Lost in a sea of inspirational quotes, my world suddenly narrowed to a single phrase illuminated on the screen: "Craving is the source of suffering." In that moment, the room fell silent, enveloped in darkness save for the glow of my phone screen and the pulsating beat of a reel  soundtrack.