Qui capit, capitur.
(Anonymous)

The one who seizes is seized.
The one who captures is captured.
The one who owns is owned.
The one who binds is bound.

(pron = kwee KAH-pit KAH-pih-toor)

Comments: What is that thing that I just must have (or eat)? Whatever it is, it
has me. This little anonymous proverb is at the root of what some spiritual
traditions call attachment. It also illustrates the power of opposites, for, I
may set out to obtain (seize) something, but the investment of my energy to do
so will leave me bound by the thing I set out to own.

This doesn’t necessarily have to turn into a moralistic judgment about anything.
It can simply be a powerful observation about anything that I desire to have,
to obtain, to own.

If I must have to new car, I will drive away with it from the car dealer. The
car payments, and maintenance activities and costs, though, will own me for
years.

If I must have that puppy in the window, I will walk away from the pet store
with the furry little ball of joy, and the house-training, and daily feedings,
and house cleanings, and gnawed up furniture will become regular demands on my
time and life for the next 15 years.

If I must have a beautiful rose garden in my yard, I can, after a weekend’s work
and a trip to the garden center, install a beautiful garden. The fungicide,
weeding, pruning, bleeding, Japanese beetles and mildew watching will take far
more time than I will likely spend gazing at the beauty of the garden.

What do I want? Whatever it is, it gets me. This is just a fact. The things
that get me themselves become fodder for knowing myself better—or I can ignore
them, and continue to get more stuff—which gets me, too, until I am lost under
the pile of stuff!

In this process of getting and being gotten, moments of gratitude help—for what
we’ve got and for what’s gotten us.