If we were just material beings, having to feed our desires without any choice, that would be hopeless. But, as the Buddha said, we actually have the potential for good habits that we can develop and we can make our choices.

"If we’re just automatons, if everything were determined, if we were just material beings having to feed our desires without any choice, that would be hopeless. But, as the Buddha said, the whole point of the teaching is that we are not hopeless. We actually have the potential for good habits that we can develop and we can make our choices. We don’t have to follow our old ways. It is possible to turn a new leaf."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "The Pain of Conviction"

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