This book is about the second of those three renunciations: with thoughts, we grapple. Recurring themes or trains of thoughts run constantly through our consciousness. These thoughts—which can lead to desires and ultimately to passions—cluster in predictable ways: they are about food, sex, things, anger, dejection, acedia (weariness of soul), vainglory, and pride. Some are as familiar as breathing in and out. Some are starkly revealing, self-made obstacles that stand between us and our deepest desire.
