One dark night the Buddha was sitting with his monks in the open air, with an oil lamp burning beside him. He observed the lamp as insects flew into its flame, and destroyed themselves.
The Buddha then said: ‘Those insects see the flame, and misunderstand it. They imagine that it offers them life and happiness; but in truth it means misery and death. In the same way human beings see bright flame: the bright flame of wealth; the bright flame of power; the bright flame of honour and fame. They rush towards those flames, thinking that they offer life and happiness – only to find that they bring misery and death. So turn away from what you see and hear outside yourselves; and turn inwards to your own mind and soul.’
