| The first ingredient of a failed relationship is greed, | | | | relationship can't gain a foothold. When a relationship |
| and greed can be very subtle. Greed begins when | | | | is new, we only need each other; nothing more, but |
| we feel insecure in some area of our lives, and then | | | | when the feelings of love weaken, the three |
| we attempt to compensate for the perceived lack | | | | ingredients of failed relationships strengthen, and can |
| of confidence. We might feel that we are not making | | | | easily shatter our lives. Therefore, we must be ever |
| enough money, or that our house is too small, | | | | vigilant in noticing when these three ingredients begin |
| perhaps not elegant enough to reflect our lifestyle. | | | | to raise their ugly heads. |
| Whenever we feel insecure, not keeping up with the | | | | To become vigilant means to become aware of our |
| Joneses, we become obsessed with getting more. | | | | feelings, of our drives, and of the feelings of our |
| The trouble with this is that the more we get, the | | | | partner. This is a selfless thing, a rare thing usually |
| more insecure we become; quite the opposite effect | | | | reserved for saints and sages, but it doesn't have to |
| of what we set out to do. Even when both partners | | | | be reserved for only the few. The consciousness of |
| of a relationship cooperate in this quest for more, the | | | | the world is changing, and we can all be a part of the |
| relationship weakens, because that which is sought | | | | immense change. If you are serious about having a |
| after replaces the feelings for the partner. | | | | lasting, loving relationship, then don't be lazy and only |
| This first ingredient, greed, usually leads to the | | | | hope for the best; become proactive in diffusing |
| second, which is hatred. Hatred begins innocently | | | | these three ingredients before they can ever |
| enough as annoyances, but quickly escalates into | | | | become powerful enough to turn your relationship |
| anger and hatred; and once a turn is made toward | | | | into a statistic. |
| anger and hatred, we seldom find our way back. | | | | If you truly love your partner and want to become |
| The third component is delusion. Delusion seems | | | | proactive in this selfless endeavor, then it's simple to |
| pleasant enough on the surface, but can be | | | | start. Begin with sitting quietly, every day for a few |
| extremely destructive. Delusion is our attempt to | | | | minutes, and watch your desires, your annoyances, |
| escape from what we face every day in our lives. | | | | and your dreams. Just watch them, they are your |
| We might escape into a clandestine relationship with | | | | thoughts, and when you watch your thoughts like |
| someone other than our partner, which will destroy | | | | this, what happens is that the thoughts lose a little of |
| our present relationship, or escape into our career, or | | | | their punch. They become only thoughts, not reality, |
| our hobbies, or our religion. If our partner doesn't | | | | and when this happens, the love that you once felt |
| share our zeal, however, for whatever it is we are | | | | begins to rekindle, but this time not only for your |
| escaping into; a separation is set into motion that | | | | partner, but for all of humanity. This is unconditional |
| might not be reconcilable. It can be the beginnings of | | | | love, and the three ingredients of a failed relationship |
| serious problems. | | | | wither before it. |
| These three ingredients; greed, hatred, and delusion | | | | Once you recognize the seeds of greed, hatred, and |
| can only come about when that special ingredient is | | | | delusion in your mind, their influence wanes, and you |
| missing . . . the ingredient of love. Love satisfies us to | | | | become mysteriously freer. |
| such an extent that the three ingredients of a failed | | | | . . . and a little more loving. |