Say, isn't it time that we got serious about looking at the interminable search for happiness through acquisition that many of us are ensnared by? We hear so much about solutions to this or that environmental, religious, political, and economic problem.

From the point of view of an authentic life practice--one aiming at an ongoing immersion in the radical, dynamic reality of human living--when experience arises--be it pleasurable, painful, or neutral--the moment wherein transformation is possible, the moment wherein our freedom may be found, is the moment before we either attach to or have aversion for the feelings that arise in conjunction with the meaning-content of experience. However, instead of looking for this freedom and hence this release from compulsion in the dynamic of human living, the overwhelming majority of human beings seek to attach to the pleasurable feelings (and hold disdain for the painful) brought about by the gratification of habitual, culturally conditioned cravings. This has led to our present-day, multidimensional crisis of universal proportions. Somehow, we must reorient ourselves to discover a source of human flourishing that will allow mutual respect and cooperation among us. Our survival demands we act on this now.

What are the primary motivating forces, those presuppositions and values at the heart of this futile search, and how can we bring into light of day their innate inadequacy?