If you muse on the flavor of food after you have eaten your fill, the feeling of relishing different flavors vanishes.
If you ponder the pleasures of the flesh after satisfying your carnal appetites, then the scene of naked lovemaking disappears. Therefore, if you can use the remorse of hindsight to dispel future foolish obsessions, you can make your nature as steady as a rock and your behavior will always be on the right track.
饱后思味，则浓淡之境都消；色后思淫，则男女之见尽绝。故人常以事后之悔悟，破临事之痴迷，则性定而动无不正。
Notes
The illusory nature of desire:
The contrast between “reflecting on flavors after eating” and “reflecting on lust after intimacy” reveals desire’s essence—not genuine need, but a fleeting impulse born of perceived lack. The craving for food when hungry or passion when aroused seems “real,” yet is merely sensory amplification. Once satisfied, this inflated obsession naturally dissipates, exposing its transient, illusory nature.
This reminds us: Many obsessions derive significance not from the object itself, but from the mindset of “not having.” Obsession springs from “lack”, peace returns from “fulfillment”.
Reflection as the key to shattering obsession
When “caught in the moment,” emotions, desires, or interests cloud judgment (“lost in the game”). Only afterward, with calm perspective, can one see past fixation and blindness (“remorse”).
Here, “remorse” is not self-blame but wisdom gained through retrospection—transforming “post-event clarity” into “in-the-moment awareness.” For example, after an impulsive mistake, analyzing emotional triggers builds vigilance for future similar situations.
Composed mind as the root of upright action
A “composed mind” remains undisturbed by desires; “upright action” aligns with moral principles. The logic: Wisdom from reflection reduces obsession’s grip during temptation or adversity, stabilizing the mind. This stability then guides actions toward appropriateness.
This passage from Tending the roots of wisdom (Cai Gen Tan) does not negate natural desires (e.g., enjoying food, emotional connection) but emphasizes not being controlled by them—letting reason, not impulse, steer choices.
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