Desire, Suffering, and the Journey
Posted on February 5, 2008 - Filed Under Just Breathe, Deep Thoughts, Mantras |
I often have difficulty reconciling my desire to be happy in my career with the knowledge that Buddhism teaches that desire leads to more suffering. This makes sense to me; that wanting something inherently means you will get it or not get it, with the latter causing suffering and the previous being hollow and materialistic, and leading to more desire. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that most Buddhists, specifically monks and nuns, must live in a environment without desire or petty distractions constantly knocking on their door. Internal detachment from the world ends suffering, so by following the way of the Buddha, you can achieve internal detachment. Physically unplugging from society can often seem like the only solution. There’s a circular conversation I often have with myself that goes a little like:
- Why do I often feel empty or unfulfilled? Because work and others often makes me angry.
- Why do I let myself get angry at these things? Because most of my time is spent at work and I want to be happy there.
- Why do I spend most of my time at work? Because I am obligated both financially and socially; it’s a necessary evil to “get along” in the world.
- Why do I have to do these things like everyone else to “get along” in the world? Because I am supposed to contribute something to society by working for a business.
- So why does working make me feel empty and unfulfilled?
Substitute friends or family for work, or anything that causes you desire. I accept others for how they act, even if I cannot be with them because of it. I do not want a perfect house, but I have been painting and remodeling for weeks now. Why?
Part of what I have come to realize is that it’s okay to live your life based on your own idea self improvement. It’s also healthy to be proud of your accomplishments, even without encouragement from others, as the self improvements are for yourself. And as long as the journey toward self-improvement is valued as much as the possible reward, then desire and suffering can coexist by merging who you are with who you want to be.
Namaste.
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I can totally relate to this, especially in relation to having a career. I want to do good in my career but isn’t wanting this bad? My own personal conversation. Good post.