Magic apples

Living life on self-will can be likened to digging up the whole of one’s garden in the belief that there is a magic apple buried somewhere in it that will transform one’s life if only one can find it. On page 61 of the book 'Alcoholics Anonymous', the text describes how we are victims of the delusion that we can wrest happiness and satisfaction from this world if we only manage well. Sometimes, people examine this part of the chapter and conclude that their problem is their inability to dig effectively or efficiently in order to find the magic apple. This may well be true in a way: all sorts of problems may arise from the digging process; for instance, there is no longer any beautiful lawn, and the flowers and vegetables are dug up before they can even grow, flower, or ripen. However, the real problem is the illusion or delusion that underlies the whole endeavour, which is that there is a magic apple buried somewhere. The truth is they there may well be an apple, but the apple was buried long ago, has rotted, and certainly contains no nutritional value any more, let let alone any of the magical properties it is believed will transform the person's life. This is what self-will is: a life based on delusion.