Why Do Things Not Turn Out as You Wish?

If there is this severe "self" in the mind, then what one thinks about may not necessarily come true, and what one does not want to think about may not necessarily be avoided. What humans do often runs exactly contrary to what they themselves hope for. For example, everyone hopes for longevity, health, and happiness, yet what they create are all things that make themselves not long-lived, not healthy, and not happy—for instance, killing living beings and eating meat. How could the result possibly be health, longevity, and happiness? Everyone wants to be free, at ease, and liberated, yet they cling tightly to a "self" and refuse to let go—how could they then be free, at ease, and liberated?

Everyone hopes to be wealthy, prosperous, and successful, yet they always intentionally or unintentionally do things like stealing and robbing—how could they then become wealthy, prosperous, and successful? People always hope to be respected and valued by others, yet they are always arrogant and look down on others, failing to respect them—how could they then gain the respect of others? People always want to have supreme power, yet they keep depriving others of their rights—how could they then possess power themselves?