Desires or clinging?

Desire or Clinging?

A deeper understanding borrowed from Buddhism

In Buddhist teachings, the often-misunderstood idea that desire is the root cause of all suffering finds clarification when we delve into the subtleties of the Pali word ‘tanha.’ The Buddha didn’t directly attribute suffering to desire but rather to a more profound concept – clinging.

The challenge arises in Western translations where ‘tanha’ (clinging) and ‘iccha’ (desire or willpower) become blurred, leading to the misconception that desire itself is inherently problematic. This linguistic hurdle mirrors a similar misstep in Christianity when describing pleasure-related actions. Both traditions emphasize the peril of being consumed by lust.

Desires lead to God?

The core clarification is that desire, in itself, is not the issue. Even monks meditating desire freedom from suffering. Drawing inspiration from Kabbalah, all desires are ultimately created by the creator to guide us toward desiring love. In Christianity, individuals desiring spiritual enlightenment or salvation are not condemned for their desires. The real problem lies in clinging to objects, not in the mere existence of desires.

Let’s explore:

Buddhas, for instance, desire to alleviate the world’s delusion and madness. Their desire is a conscious expression of full awareness, not a source of suffering. The crucial distinction between desire and clinging is evident – desire can be conscious and intentional, while clinging is unconscious, driven by ignorance and the mistaken belief that an object brings lasting happiness. This misunderstanding is a common challenge in clients seeking happiness through material pursuits.

The paradoxical circumstantial evidence against desires as causes for suffering or happiness:

Consider this: I’ve seen one of the wealthiest and successful men in the country consumed by unhappiness, hopelessness, and depression, proving that unless we understand where happiness comes from, we cannot consistently create it. I’ve also witnessed people with nothing, who own nothing but the shirt on their back, deeply unhappy, but I have also witnessed individuals transition from torment to happiness with no outer change whatsoever. The outer controls our state of mind as long as we give it that power.

Can you eliminate desires?

Attempting to eliminate desires is impossible. Buddhism doesn’t advocate for eradication but emphasizes transforming our relationship with desires. Source texts encourage understanding and managing desires, not eliminating them. After all, it is desire that propels us towards liberation, so how could it be the “source of all suffering”? It is our relationship to it that is problematic.

A vice in the heart becomes an idol on the altar:

Placing the object of desire on an altar, worshiping it, and giving it control over our inner state is the true cause of suffering. Happiness, in line with Buddhist philosophy, must be generated as a virtue from within. The fundamental mistake lies in placing faith in a moving target, worshiping the object of desire as the source of happiness. So, where do we place our belief in happiness?

Get sober

Believing that attainment of a desire will bring us happiness is the same as “Having other God’s but me”. This notion of one of the ten commandments, helps us to understand better what having idols mean. It doesn’t mean praying to a statue or some other trinket. It refers to worshipping our vices, or making our desire into a vice. In and of itself, a desire has no power over us. Not the power to make us suffer and not the power to make us happy. Come to a place of sobriety around this. It is what it is, it has no power other than what you give it.

Take it all off the altar, or the pedestal

Buddhism doesn’t oppose desires; it recognizes the futility of trying to eliminate them. The misinterpretation led humanity astray, attributing suffering to HAVING desires rather than to the unconscious clinging that accompanies them. Instead of fighting desires, acknowledge that happiness lies in giving life to a desired “state of mind” independently of outer circumstances. Both clinging to desires and trying to eliminate them places desires on a pedestal. Again, come to sobriety and recognize that they have no such power. A desire is a road sign, and if you want to go that direction or not, well it is your choice, but it does not equal suffering and it does not equal happiness. Suffering or happiness does not come from without.

The State Of Mind

The core message is that desires aren’t the source of suffering; it’s our reliance on their attainment as the sole source of happiness that leads to suffering. Happiness is an inside job, and chasing happiness is paradoxically not the source of happiness! Replacing the word happiness for fulfilment, or inner peace, we discover that happiness is a byproduct of maintaining an inner state of mind. Whether rich or poor, whether we attain our desires or not, desires are not the source of suffering, nor are they the source of happiness. Desires are part and parcel of being a human being