Desire in Early Buddhism - 1088 Words

Desire in Early Buddhism According to the Third Noble Truth, we eliminate suffering and achieve Nirvana by eliminating desires (taņhÄ ). This is sometimes taken to mean that we should eliminate all desires (after all, just about any desire is a cause of suffering). However, we also witness the Buddha and the arahants pursuing goals, feeling compassion, begging for food, etc. These behaviors and tendencies might be seen as inconsistent with a life without desires. According to Holder’s view of the four noble truths, the third noble truth is â€Å"just the statement that suffering is curable by removing it’s cause, namely, craving (xv).† Gowan’s definition of the third noble truth â€Å"depicts a state of health that is said to be free of suffering (135).† Buddhist believe that a person only exists in designation but not in reality. A person experiences body, feelings, perceptions, volitions, and consciousness which enables the person to believe that the person is more than just those components. The person believes that he is alive when in reality it is merely the perception of being alive. In believing that a person is alive the person also give into desire. A monk has to desire to enter Nirvana, and to enter Nirvana he must have the motivation to meditate. However the monk only reaches Nirvana when he no longer has desire. So is that not an impossible attainment. Based on Holder’s definition of the third noble truth the only solution that comes to mind is that the monkShow MoreRelatedBuddhism : Buddhism And Buddhism982 Words   |  4 PagesBuddhism is a philosophy that is often viewed as a religion and dates back to approximately 6th century B.C.E. Buddhism originated in the Indian subcontinent by a man known as Siddhartha Gautama. 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