We can see this in our modern lives reflected in advertising that encourages us to buy and consume more, but we can also understand this in the context of the environment in which our ancestors were evolved. abundance, the evolutionary “cost” of not acquiring more is minimal – the basic needs required to ensure our genetics are passed on to the next generation are readily available. The same cannot be said of our ancestors. Resource scarcity means that someone who is less competitive in acquiring and maintaining resources may not survive to reproduce. Although this trait served our ancestors well, it becomes a source of suffering in an environment of relative abundance. We cannot be satisfied with what we have because the potentially greater possessions of others are seen as a threat to our well-being and security. Recognizing the source of our suffering is liberating because it allows us to stop searching for our life. for the cause of the suffering we experience. Suffering exists because we are human – it is intrinsic to the biological nature of our minds and does not result from a flaw in our character or that of those around us. When we accept that our biology, for historically valid reasons, leads us to wants and desires that can never be satisfied, we realize that the path to peace lies in changing our perception of the world, not in vain attempts at change.