Rid Desire

[The Sum of Awe]

It's kind of hard, isn't it?

Wouldn't ridding desire be the desire to rid desire?

What if I desire a parachute when I jump out of an airplane?

So does practicing no desire mean that I can't have a soda every now or then? Use the computer? Play video games? Those are desires also.

 

[Father Heathen]

The only way to truly rid oneself of desire and attachment is via death.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

The only way to truly rid oneself of desire and attachment is via death.

Hmm, I think you are right, but maybe some people will have a different translation of what it means.

We desire life, so I see what you are getting at.

 

[horizon_mj1]

...We desire life...

How do you know this? Not everyone fears death. Fact in point without life there could not be desire and vice versa.

 

[linwood]

How do you know this? Not everyone fears death. Fact in point without life there could not be desire and vice versa.

Why does "desires life" equate to "fears death" for you.

One can desire life without fear of death.

Many even desire death because they believe it will bring them greater life.

 

[Father Heathen]

How do you know this? Not everyone fears death.

What about fear of desire?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

How do you know this? Not everyone fears death. Fact in point without life there could not be desire and vice versa.

Then why live?

Some desire life more than others, and I very less desire less, but I still do a little bit, just enough to keep me alive.

 

[Onkara]

It's kind of hard, isn't it?

Wouldn't ridding desire be the desire to rid desire?

What if I desire a parachute when I jump out of an airplane?

So does practicing no desire mean that I can't have a soda every now or then? Use the computer? Play video games? Those are desires also.

You are right, even the desire to be rid of desire is still desire. So it is the right desire, or rather the right use of desire which is key in my opinion.

 

[Engyo]

Desire itself isn't the problem. It is the attachment to having our desires satisfied that creates dukkha.

 

[Breathe]

You are right, even the desire to be rid of desire is still desire. So it is the right desire, or rather the right use of desire which is key in my opinion.

Svaha.


Awe, it's not quite desires as such: having desires is part of life. It's clinging to them and focusing on them that is unhelpful and should be avoided. Preoccupation with these desires is no good: you need to be able to let go of those desires from taking over your life, getting infatuated with them, go with the flow, and so on. There's a difference between wanting a can of soda and spending an hour moaning about it or thinking about it. The word translated as desires, in Buddhism, is taṇhā (Pali) and tṛṣṇā (Sanskrit), meaning something akin to 'thirst', so the closest translation I guess is excessive desire which can give way to upādāna (craving), which is literally the word "fuel".


My view, anyway.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Svaha.


Awe, it's not quite desires as such: having desires is part of life. It's clinging to them and focusing on them that is unhelpful and should be avoided. Preoccupation with these desires is no good: you need to be able to let go of those desires from taking over your life, getting infatuated with them, go with the flow, and so on. There's a difference between wanting a can of soda and spending an hour moaning about it or thinking about it. The word translated as desires, in Buddhism, is taṇhā (Pali) and tṛṣṇā (Sanskrit), meaning something akin to 'thirst', so the closest translation I guess is excessive desire which can give way to upādāna (craving), which is literally the word "fuel".


My view, anyway.

I see.

Thanks everyone, this re-enlightened my views on Dharmic Religions.

 

[horizon_mj1]

Why does "desires life" equate to "fears death" for you.

One can desire life without fear of death.

Many even desire death because they believe it will bring them greater life.

I do not mean that "desires life" is equivalent to "fears death", what I mean is the desire for life may come from a fear of death. You are right some people desire death; I find this sad that they can not find anything to be happy to live for or see the greatness in life itself.

 

[horizon_mj1]

What about fear of desire?

Fear to me is an emotion that should be controlled. I realize there may be situations in which one may find themselves unable to do this, but when it comes to one emotion infringing upon another, the "will" of the person experiencing such a thing should be able to help them make an appropriate decision.

 

[horizon_mj1]

Then why live?

Some desire life more than others, and I very less desire less, but I still do a little bit, just enough to keep me alive.

To me this is like saying without desire why live. Is this a correct assumption? If you set your desire outside of your means, then I can see having a problem with happiness. On the other hand if your desires are within your means, if left unfulfilled, to me that is a personal problem. (When I speak of desires in this way I do not mean a desire to kill someone, I am speaking of morally logical desires.)

 

[The Sum of Awe]

To me this is like saying without desire why live. Is this a correct assumption? If you set your desire outside of your means, then I can see having a problem with happiness. On the other hand if your desires are within your means, if left unfulfilled, to me that is a personal problem. (When I speak of desires in this way I do not mean a desire to kill someone, I am speaking of morally logical desires.)

If one does not desire to live, what is keeping them from killing themselves?

 

[Arav]

If one does not desire to live, what is keeping them from killing themselves?

The lack of desire to kill themselves?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

The lack of desire to kill themselves?

So basically ridding desire is a contradiction?

 

[horizon_mj1]

If one does not desire to live, what is keeping them from killing themselves?

Acceptance. If you see life and death for what they are and accept them for what they are, you understand that is what has to be done with or without your approval, so why try to change it or argue with it?

 

[horizon_mj1]

So basically ridding desire is a contradiction?

A desire is only a contradiction to lack of desire. What is your desire in appropriation to life; want, wish, or need?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Acceptance. If you see life and death for what they are and accept them for what they are, you understand that is what has to be done with or without your approval, so why try to change it or argue with it?

Even if I accept something for what it is, I would have to either desire it or not desire.