Life's Ex(PEA)riences

    Do we seek out suffering and chaos?  After thorough discussion with several others I have come to the conclusion that we do and we also do not. The best example I can give anyone is one from my life. I am allergic to peas however I continue to eat samosas. One of the ingredients found in samosas are peas and they have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. Fortunately, I am not deathly allergic and instead I only experience mild symptoms of the more threatening side. Regardless, I am continuing to hurt myself when I could simply just not eat a samosa. So why do I do it? Well there are three ways to look at the situation.

1. I am successfully able to remove all the peas and feel joy from eating a samosa.

2. I accidentally eat a pea and end up suffering for a few hours or even days from a suffocating throat and swollen lips.

3. The safest option of course: Don't even try eating it.

    Most people would say option three makes the most sense. Why even take the risk when there is a chance to never experience the suffering that could come from a different choice? However, if I had made that decision, then I would never have been able to taste the warm flaky exterior of the pastry that pairs beautifully with a mixture of potatoes, cilantro, and green chili. I wouldn't have felt the earthy aroma of ghee and cardamom surround the air around me. Yes, it comes with risk, but doesn't ever decision? 

    I don't believe we seek out suffering, however, it is an underlying and always-existing experience of life. I like to think it is similar to the chocolate box metaphor. You might get the medicine like one filled with a gummy orange flavor or a delicious caramel-filled piece of chocolate. In this instance, I could eat a pea and suffer, or I could also not and end up feeling great from the experience and taste. What's worse - experiencing pain that can bloom into something great or experiencing nothing at all?

p.s. I don't recommend anyone to eat what they're allergic to but you also shouldn't be taking advice from a hypocrite.