Chapter 12
Craving is The Problem:
What is The Solution? The primary problem that Gotama Buddha discovered about the human mind is that it is constantly in a condition of craving and desire, also described as attachment. The mind constantly craves, desires, and attaches to possessions, relationships, wealth, fame, occupations, etc. A craving, desire, or attachment is “a mental longing for something with a strong eagerness”. The unEnlightened mind continuously and endlessly has “cravings”, “desires”, “attachments”, “expectations”, or “wants” and because we cannot ever fulfill our endless “wants” with the mind craving permanence, the mind is discontent caused by our own cravings, desires, or attachments. The mind is never content and craves more and more from life. This is the condition of the mind in the unEnlightened state creating a life of never ending pursuit of our cravings. Yet the mind can be trained to evolve past this never ending cycle of craving. The mind can attain a “Higher Consciousness” through the pursuit of Enlightenment. It is the mind’s ignorance or “unknowing of true reality”, that the unEnlightened mind does not understand what it does not understand, that is keeping it in the unEnlightened state. Through acquiring wisdom in these Teachings, the mind gradually awakens to its challenges and implements the solutions in a well developed life practice to eliminate cravings/desires/ attachments, thus, eliminating 100% of all discontentedness. As a kid, we feel that we could just be happy if we had a bicycle. We focus the mind on this goal and put lots of effort into obtaining a bicycle. We eventually obtain the bicycle. The mind is happy for a period of time but eventually the happiness associated with the bicycle reduces and the mind looks to its next craving or desire to create pleasant feelings. Next, the mind wants a motorcycle. We apply the mind and effort to acquire this new item and the mind is happy. But, eventually this happiness wears off since conditioned happiness is impermanent. The mind conditioned its happiness on an impermanent condition so it wears off. The mind is seeking internal pleasant feelings based on impermanent conditions, therefore, the pleasant feelings are only temporary and the cycle continues.
Then, the mind craves an automobile. We apply the mind and effort to acquire this new item and the mind is happy. Later, the mind craves a luxury automobile. We apply the mind and effort to acquire this new item and the mind is happy. But, eventually this happiness wears off since happiness is impermanent. The cycle continues leaving us unhappy and unsatisfied but still constantly developing new cravings for impermanent conditions to create inner pleasant feelings. As long as the mind continues in the way, it will continue to chase after the objects of its affection constantly experiencing pleasant feelings, painful feelings, and feelings that are neither painful-nor-pleasant. The mind will never experience a permanent peaceful and calm mental state as long as it is basing its inner feelings on impermanent conditions.
Craving, desire, attachment, mental longing with a strong eagerness, needs
to be eliminated from the mind to train the mind to no longer chase after pleasant feelings through impermanent conditions. The difference between a craving or desire versus a need is, a need is something that is required and helpful to sustain life. A craving or desire is “a mental longing for something with a strong eagerness”. In this example, the need is for “transportation” but it is the craving for more and more that causes the mind to be discontent. Rather than be content with having transportation of any type, the mind craves another form of transportation which then requires one to pursue this craving seeking outward satisfaction or impermanent happiness that is never lasting because seeking to satisfy happiness based on an impermanent condition will lead to a discontent mind. The mind continues to pursue more and more pleasant feelings through impermanent conditions never being content or “satisfied with what is”. The mind is displeased and continues on this constant search seeking inner fulfillment through impermanent conditions. The mind constantly craves possessions, relationships, wealth, fame, occupations, etc. We spend our lifetime craving and chasing after our cravings. We endlessly and forever pursue our cravings without ever reaching contentedness, unless we train the mind towards the attainment of Enlightenment. The Path to Enlightenment involves extinguishing our cravings and desires (i.e. attachments), learning to live within our means and finding contentedness through inner fulfillment where the mind can reside peaceful,
calm, serene, and content with joy, never experiencing even the slightest irritation or annoyance. This path to attain Enlightenment is guidance to help one understand the cause of the discontent mind and through personal choices that are made, one can train the mind to attain higher and higher degrees of a peaceful and content mind, thus, a peaceful and content life. Each person needs to decide when is the appropriate time to extinguish the individual cravings, desires, or attachments currently present in the mind and as one does so, they will experience more and more of a peaceful, calm, serene, and content mind with joy. The mind will become permanently tranquil and unshakable. A craving, desire, attachment is not the object itself. So eliminating possessions and relationships is not what eliminates the craving/desire/ attachment. A craving/desire/attachment is how the mind pulls in the direction of an object thinking that is what is going to produce satisfaction in the mind. But, because the mind is chasing after these impermanent objects, even when the mind acquires the object of its affections experiencing pleasant feelings, the mind is still discontent. The happiness, excitement, or elation is conditioned on an impermanent object, therefore, it is only a matter of time before the mind then experiences painful feelings due to the temporary nature of the external object. Training the mind to no longer chase after the objects of its affection is to train the mind to eliminate craving/desire/attachment. A Practitioner does not need to eliminate possessions and relationships but instead, train the mind to not pull in the direction of these objects thinking that is what it needs to create lasting satisfaction or fulfillment of the mind. The mind needs to gain the wisdom to understand that it is the longing and yearning for these impermanent objects that is causing the mind to be discontent. If one only pursued these as interests, goals, and objectives, the mind could be peaceful and content, no longing or chasing after impermanent objects to create inner feelings. In the following table, you will find examples of potential cravings. The object itself is not what determines if it is or is not a craving, but instead, it is how the mind relates to these external objects. If the mind is pursuing and chasing these, thinking that is what will create inner satisfaction or fulfillment of the mind, it is a craving/desire/attachment.
There is no such thing as a wholesome craving/desire/attachment as all cravings will produce discontentedness.
Examples of Potential Cravings
Craving
Potential Harmful Effects By Unwholesome Kamma
Production with Connection to Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
Automobiles
Excessive Work, Excessive Ego, Lack of Time with Those Close to Us,
Pollution
Children
Disease, Famine, Lack of Resources, Excessive Work
Clothing and Jewelry
Excessive Work, Excessive Ego, Lack of Time with Those Close to Us
Fame
Excessive Work, Excessive Ego, Lack of Time with Those Close to Us
Food or Eating Animal
Products
Obesity, Harmful Effects in the Body, Death, Destruction of Planet’s
Resources, (Greed; Taking of Life; Business in Meat)
Happiness
Suicide
Help the World
Lack of Motivation Due to Inability to Help the “Entire World”, Ignoring Inner
Development or Inner Healing
Job Titles
Excessive Work, Excessive Ego, Lack of Time with Those Close to Us, Aggressive Decision Making Based on Greed, Hatred, or Delusion and Ego that is Harmful to Relationships, Society, and Environment.
Life Partner
Feelings of Abandonment, Loneliness, Premature Selection without Full
Consideration of Needs, Divorce, (Sexual Misconduct)
Perfection
Guilt, Obsessiveness, Control, Feelings of Worthlessness, Excessive Work
Power
Excessive Work, Excessive Ego, Lack of Time with Those Close to Us,
Aggressive Decision Making Based on Greed that is Harmful to
Relationships, Society, and Environment; Poor Working Conditions,
Extensive Poverty, Corrupt Politics, Bullying, Murder, Terrorism, Mass
Shootings, War, (Greed; Taking of Life)
Sexual Contact
Loneliness, Lack of Trust in Relationships, Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(STDs), Unplanned Pregnancy, Lack of Resources to Care for Children,
Orphans, Rape, Sexual Abuse of Minors, Pregnancy Outside of Committed
Relationship, Human Trafficking, Prostitution, Divorce, Death,
(Sexual Misconduct; Business in Living Beings)
Substance Abuse
(Alcohol, Illicit Drugs,
Prescription Drugs,
Caffeine, etc)
Racing Mind, Excessive Energy, Lack of Calmness, Insomnia/Loss of Sleep,
Loss of Memory, Loss of Occupation, Loss of Financial Stability, Loss of
Relationships, Loss of Home, Loss of Health, Drug Addicted Infants,
Prostitution, Death, (Substances that Cause Heedlessness; Business in
Substances That Cause Heedlessness)
Wealth
(Currency, Real Estate,
Gold)
Excessive Work, Excessive Ego, Lack of Time with Those Close to Us,
Aggressive Decision Making Based on Greed that is Harmful to
Relationships, Society, and Environment; Poor Working Conditions,
Extensive Poverty, Financial Disasters, Excessive Debt, Murder, Terrorism,
Mass Shootings, Prostitution, War, (Greed; Taking of Life)
The list of potential cravings and desires is endless which can lead to wrong intentions, wrong speech, wrong actions, and wrong livelihood. Our cravings and desires lead us to cause harm to other beings and to ourselves through The Natural Law of Kamma, including not practicing The Five Precepts. As we cause harm because of our cravings and desires, this harm is returned to us due to The Natural Law of Kamma. The mind remains unEnlightened and the discontentedness of mind continues, never reaching peacefulness, calmness, serenity, or contentedness of mind with joy. These are some common examples to help you see that your human existence is merely chasing after your cravings and desires rather than living in the moment to enjoy a life of contentedness while being “satisfied with what is”. The list of “Potential Harmful Effects” is just an example of ways these excessive cravings could lead to harmful effects. There are many other cravings and potential harmful effects. The potential harmful effects are not clear cut and absolute but potential effects based on a specific craving (i.e. attachment). These same cravings can be pursued as healthy goals, without an excessive craving, that leads to beneficial outcomes for your life and society. This would be “walking the middle way” progressing in life with interests, goals, and objectives. With excessive craving, we spend our time and effort fulfilling what we “think” will make us happy, but it turns out once we acquire what we thought would make us happy, that happiness fades and leaves us feeling not as fulfilled. Then, the craving continues until we extinguish our cravings and desires through the growth of attaining Enlightenment. These aspects of life are helpful and can be healthy for our existence however, excessive cravings in any of these areas, or others, can send the mind into unwholesome pursuit of these cravings. The goal is to extinguish these never ending and potentially reckless cravings and desires while creating a life of contentment. Bringing the mind to walk the middle way rather than harbor extensive craving, is part of this life practice.
Extinguishing Cravings and Desires
Some of the most challenging cravings and desires to extinguish are excessive and reckless sexual desire or substance abuse. These cravings, along with others, can preoccupy the mind for unlimited amounts of time which take away from living a content life. These cravings can cause harm to other beings through excessive use of finances that should be allocated to home life, or excessive use of time that could be devoted to wholesome relationships or wholesome activities rather than chasing our cravings. By eliminating our endless cravings and desires, we are able to pursue more meaningful relationships and activities that produce greater benefit for society, those close to us, and our life, without craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and without cultivation of our ego. We are better able to focus on what we “need” for life rather than what we “want”. Depending on the specific cravings and desires you currently have, you may need to find help to learn how to extinguish your cravings. A life full of excessive cravings and desires, such as listed in the above, will take you away from enjoying a peaceful and calm existence in the human form, perhaps inhibiting you from a deep, engaging, and rewarding life. There are various professionals around the world who specialize in the elimination of various addictions. Addictions, or cravings, desires, or attachments, are all areas of our life that can be addressed through seeking of guidance and/or professional help. Depending on the depth of your addiction, you could potentially gain benefit from various professionals, support groups, and/or self help programs. Craving is the “fuel” that causes rebirth. If there is craving at the time of death, you will be reborn into another realm of existence. So, by solving the problem of craving, you also solve the problem of rebirth. If we are not reborn, we do not experience sickness, aging, nor death. The discontentedness and suffering caused by craving is completely eliminated.
Upon rebirth, most likely, you will not be reborn back into the human realm unless the mind has attained the first or second Stage of Enlightenment. If you can extinguish your cravings and desires prior to death, you can experience Enlightenment. Enlightenment will be a content and peaceful existence, in which, you will not experience discontentedness nor suffering during the remaining time of your existence in the human realm. You will also have peace to know you will not be reborn ever again. You can experience
Enlightenment during life and experience unshakable peace and inner fulfillment for your life, or you can wait until death without truly knowing the outcome. Waiting until death is highly risky and provides no opportunity for you to enjoy a peaceful and calm mind.
As you pursue Enlightenment, you will know you are progressing on “The Path” because your life will continually improve as you relate to the world around you in a more and more healthy and peaceful way. Because you are causing less and less harm in the world, there will be less and less harm returned allowing the mind to be completely at ease and peaceful. As you work to eliminate your cravings and find that you have urges and desires that draw you to the unwholesome behavior, it is important not to allow the mind to dwell in the craving and desire. As you experience unwholesome urges, move the mind into a constructive activity. This way, the mind does not sit in one spot for the craving to build. This would be a healthy application of “Right Effort” from The Eight Fold Path. You would like to abandon the unwholesome mental states and arise wholesome mental states, but this cannot happen with the snap of a finger. You must apply Right Effort to move the mind into another direction that is wholesome, cutting off the unwholesome qualities that arise in the mind. Therefore, the practice you incorporate when you experience the urges of your cravings is to move the mind into a different environment or activity. Go outdoors, call a friend, go to the gym, go for a walk, or any other activity that you might enjoy, that would change the mind from a state of craving to something more productive and wholesome. In the moment of recognizing a craving, you could try meditation, however, this might keep the mind in one spot and not necessarily produce the results you need. Oftentimes, moving the mind into a new environment or a new activity is what’s needed to ease it out of addictive cycles, thinking, and cravings. Use meditation as a consistent ongoing practice to regularly train the mind to eliminate craving with Breathing Mindfulness Meditation as described in Chapter 11 (Meditation: Developing Your Practice). A Practitioner will also need to practice generosity as part of their “life practice” in daily life. Both Breathing Mindfulness Meditation and generosity are the solutions to craving/desire/attachment. The important goal for you is to not be a slave to your addictions and ensure you are progressing on a path to eliminating these life altering behaviors.
As you reduce your addictions, cravings, and desires you will notice gradual improvements in your mental alertness, clarity, and peacefulness through elimination of your attachments. Your relationships with those close to you will improve and deepen. Be aware that relapses can occur but bringing a gradual diminishing of your addictions (i.e. attachments) is normal. You should observe a gradual tapering of your addictive behavior as you apply “Right Effort”. If a relapse does occur, put it in the past and move forward with your continued pursuit to extinguish the craving. Depending on the type and severity of your addiction, increased levels of professional help and support could be needed, or you may be able to extinguish your cravings through your own efforts. You need to decide what is best for you and how you need to progress to extinguish your cravings including your craving to exist in this world. By the time of your death, you will need to extinguish the craving to exist in the world in any form including any desire to enjoy an afterlife with a pleasant destination. If you still have craving to exist or any other cravings, you will be reborn. You must even extinguish the craving to attain Enlightenment, and pursue this as an interest, goal, or objective. When there is craving, there is no Enlightenment. Continue your progress to eliminate cravings and desires which is causing the mind to be discontent. Do not get discouraged as you apply effort to extinguish your cravings. Taper your cravings and desires until they are fully extinguished and continue to walk The Path towards Enlightenment - a better way of life.
Learning Resources for Further Exploration
Audiobook
(Audiobook) - (Volume 1 - Chapter 12) - Craving is The Problem: What is The Solution? (Read & Listen)
Ep. 512 - (Audiobook) - (Volume 1 - Chapter 12) - Craving is The Problem: What is The Solution?
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buddhadailywisdom/episodes/Ep--512---Audiobook---
Volume-1---Chapter-12---Craving-is-The-Problem-What-is-The-Solution-e272ubm
Youtube Video(s)
(Group Learning Program) - Chapter 12 - Craving is The Problem: What is The Solution?
https://youtube.com/live/loIH5rdzLDA
(Group Learning Program) - Guided Breathing Mindfulness Meditation and
Student Questions
https://youtube.com/live/nIcWkfqUHcE
Podcast(s)
Ep. 456 - (Group Learning Program) - Chapter 12 - Craving is The Problem: What is The Solution?
Ep. 457 - (Group Learning Program) - Guided Breathing Mindfulness Meditation and Student Questions
Quiz
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