It seems to me like many modern day Buddhists have become similar to the ascetics who Gautama criticizedthe ascetic practices austerities, refrains from sensual pleasures, and follows some of the same rules as modern day Buddhists but the ascetic almost never goes to heaven or any pleasant destination after death because their practices yield painful feelings. I would suggest starting simple- take up meditation, understand the principles and see if there is any truth to it. Asavas is translated usually as "mental fermentations", "defilements", "cankers", "taints" but never as desire. Mental, physical, financial, etc. This is called right effort." It is often said that the main cause of suffering is desire, or, as Buddha said, "Desire is the root cause of all evil." However, we should first understand the types of desires before. Desire within would then get severely weakened. Did any DOS compatibility layers exist for any UNIX-like systems before DOS started to become outmoded? Especially if it is desire for material things, which are easily lost. The Buddha states that the root of suffering is an attachment. The art of Busshi is one of the most significant cultural legacies of Japan. From my personal observations and experiences I've concluded that painful feelings are the cause of suffering some what similarly to dependent origination: Painful feelings are not really the same as desire but can be associated. creaturesso that, though they wish to be free of enmity, violence, there is no jealousy and stinginess., But dear sir, what is the source of what is liked and disliked? Thus I ask, how can desire be the enemy? Legal Disclaimer: The author of imaqurius.com is not an attorney, medical professional, psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, nutritionist, or dietitian. What a person wants right now can change fast. Anything that causes painful feelings causes suffering but if someone were to have wishes or desires that causes pleasant feelings or leads towards arahantship it would be beneficial. And what is the all that is burning? It is also the root of many pleasurable things, but this is what makes it problematic. This is the more stern, cold, blank form of Buddhism and has no esoteric side to it but it is often said to have preserved more faithfully the original public teachings of the Lord Buddha. Shouldn't it be greed instead? while living a righteous life at home. The wise person, charitable and virtuous, He takes care of the people in his home If someone were to merely give up on desire without generating pleasant feelings or good kamma or entering into higher states like the jhanas or developing the six higher knowledges they would probably become pretty similar to the ascetic producing painful feelings and not achieving arahantship. Describing the "three unwholesome roots" introduces another word, rga -- sometimes translated "passion" or "lust" or "greed". of jealousy and stinginess? Your peaceful life in your country may be replaced by civil unrest. This is the only true and unending source of joy and this is the way to freedom from suffering. to the ending of defilements, do so by developing and cultivating the For desire is the root of suffering.' He was describing a method for transcending suffering, and desire is the root of it. This disturbance is subtle but can be felt by a practitioner of meditation. Countering desire at this time thus needs one to change how the mind fundamentally works with emotions. Theravada scholars bring confusion to Buddhism by their shortcuts about "desires". I fail to understand how this teaching would ever help man become productive. It truly is the finish line that you will never reach. Heres what I have found: scientific experiments suggest that we are on to something. They come from what others desire you to do or to be. And this disturbance can initiate an action. Over the centuries, though no one has managed to rid themselves of desire, many have managed to appreciate the now to such a degree that they were no longer suffering. Its even more difficult to change ingrained behavior. Yesdesire is the root of all suffering! You are ready to commit to marriage, when suddenly they end the relationship. What is the root cause of all sufferings? And your higher self matches that new frequency the minute you desire it. Pulling out the very root is called as total remedy. Essentially, desire is the root of all suffering. When he finds estrangement, passion fades out. You think and fantasize about it even when it's not there. asked another question: But dear sir, what is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception If you know you will never reach the end of the line, you will no longer think something is wrong when you dont reach the end of the line. And that difference is a BIG difference. Pointing to desire as the root for suffering isn't necessarily the answer but it is the start to answering the question. And we no longer worry because we know that God is perfect, Gods plan for us is perfect, and He desires what is best for us. Far from it. But "desire" has many meanings: it can be the motivation to do something, to accomplish somethinga desire for enlightenment, perhaps, or to become more compassionate, or to serve. I personally am more drawn to Hinduism than to Buddhism as a whole but I readily admit that there is one important area in which Buddhism triumphs over Hinduism and that is in its constant emphasis on selflessness and the destruction of every last trace of selfishness. If this is successfully developed, the mind gets less and less disturbed by the forces of desire and anger. He may well be playing out in his mind how he would do so. No one can. The third Noble Truth is the realisation that there is a cure. Becoming is a process of gradually emerging (and supporting already emerged) sense of individual narrative, the story of "my" life. The basic fundamental teachings of both are the same but they differ greatly from one another in quite a number of other aspects. wish to be free of enmity, violence, hostility, and hate, they still Once you accept that you can never reach that finish line, you open the door to joy in your life. We must guard against lethargy and always strive to be engaged in work that we believe is the right thing to do. And now, it is the byproduct of yours. Forgive me if they are a little cheesy: I think that the Pali distinguishes two words: tanha -- "craving" or more literally "thirst". The Buddha described the Eightfold Path as a means to enlightenment, like a raft for crossing a river. It's a pretty big topic OP. The focus of this discussion is on what Gita says and if that can practically be of help to us. Also see this answer to the excellent question "Can a Buddhist own and run a billion dollar business?". he promotes the welfare of his wife and children. and stinginess. Therefore, what is the point of your question? could all make you happy. It is clear there and elsewhere that he did indeed mean what he said in the Four Noble Truthsthat desire is the cause of all suffering and that the extinguishing of desire will equate to the extinguishing of suffering. In laymens terms, we will have become the best version of ourselves. There is no anxiety or stressonly perfect love. The stupa ("stupa" is Sanskrit for heap) is an important form of Buddhist architecture, though it predates Buddhism. In other words, Hes got this! Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. humans, demons, dragons, fairiesand any of the other diverse and also the deities; Here's another example of a sutta where worldly happiness is preached in Buddhism. Transcending is a spiritual technique and cannot be perfected by operating at the same mental level at which desire and anger arise. Therefore, even "good desires" can bring suffering. If you crave to get recognition and get it once, you may cling to it and want it even when it's not present. Personal desires, dreams, goals, ambitions all these things that the world presents as being vitally important and essential to the happiness of a human being are really nothing other than selfishness and, as said, it is SELFISHNESS that is the great curse of humanity. With so much suffering in the world today on an individual level as well as nationally and globally wouldnt it be wonderful if someone could discover and point out to us the actual CAUSE of all suffering so that we could eliminate the cause and thus perhaps eliminate suffering itself, making the world a much happier and more peaceful place in the process? Some of the Hindu texts such as the Upanishads (Isa) and the Bhagavadgita consider doing actions prompted by desire and attachment would lead to bondage and suffering and that performing actions without desiring the fruit of . If you think a thought that feels positive, it is because that thought has a vibration, which is closer to the vibration of your higher self and therefore your desire. In its strongest form the doctrine may state that: "the world is lead by thirst ( tah ), the world is dragged around by thirst; everything is under the power of this single factor, thirst " (Suttanipta 1. So, desire and its accompanying anger would keep our minds disturbed and away from peace. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? The Buddha did not speak English. The short term happiness goal in Buddhism is worldly happiness, when it is achieved through virtue, merit, charity and harmony. A person who is truly sorry will work towards changing their behavior to not cause the offensive behavior again. A central concept in Buddhism and many forms of Hinduism is the idea that our desires are the root of all our suffering and are what keep us bound in the cycle of death and rebirth. Sowhen I find myself feeling out of balance, stressed, or not myself, I seek to align myselfas best I canto Gods will again. The ocean of good qualities that are in other, There is subtle cause in each living being that who don't give up, are bound by law of karma to become again. How can someone full of desire help anyone? Any reliance on or application of any information or material provided by imaquarius.com or persons appearing on the [Site/program/email] at or through imaquarius.com or 3rd parties recommended by imaquarius.com is at the readers discretion and is his or her sole responsibility. Burning with what? Is that not how every living being functions - driven by desire? I have written about my take on Mahabharat in this article and on on Ramayan here. Attachment to things that are impermanent will naturally lead to suffering. Nirvana is better understood as a state of mind that humans can reach. dont know where pic came from and need help to delete it @elommusk . Your only wish will be to help and to serve others. But I still wondered, Is desire=suffering always true, or mostly true, or. It only takes a minute to sign up. Then you you talk to everyone you know about the injustice. So there are two ways to close this gap between you and your higher self; between you and your desire. Desire causes suffering because its a state of desperation of getting something you don't have. "The origin of suffering, as a noble truth, is this: It is the craving that produces renewal of being accompanied by enjoyment and lust, and enjoying this and that; in other words, craving for sensual desires, craving for being, craving for non-being. They say that happiness is the result of learning how to rid oneself of desire. When you uproot craving, you will uproot suffering. The idea of anyone actually being able to be free from all personal desire sadly seems impossible and extreme to many spiritual people today, whereas even more extreme and impossible sounding teachings such as manifesting a gigantic mansion for oneself through the power of the mind are often readily and unquestioningly accepted as being plausible and worthy of attention.