In "Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English," Henepola Gunaratana discusses the nature of our senses, comparing them to hungry animals that constantly seek external stimuli. This metaphor illustrates how our perceptions and experiences often chase after external objects or sensations, highlighting the driving nature of our senses for fulfillment and engagement with the world around us.

Gunaratana emphasizes the importance of understanding this tendency to create a more profound state of meditation. By recognizing how our senses are always in search of something outside ourselves, we can learn to redirect our focus inward, finding deeper states of awareness and tranquility in the process.