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Desire is the source of all suffering

by PLR Basket
16 replies
I was just watching the Simpsons and it was this episode where Lisa decides to embrace Buddhism. At one point, she's picks up a pamphlet and reads "Desire is the source of all suffering". This isn't the first time I hear this quote, and it resonated with me for some reason. What are your thoughts on this?
#desire #source #suffering
  • Profile picture of the author elexmedia
    “Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.”- Napoleon Hill
    Yes, but desire is also the source off all achievement... Just my simple thought
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  • Profile picture of the author ProScribe
    It is not surprising that it resonated with you as it is one of the key concepts of buddhism as well as many other influential schools of thought including extentialism.

    It is difficult to know how to reconcile, what is almost certainly true, that desire does cause suffering, with the kind of ambitious mindset that IM requires.

    But maybe it involves being outcome independent. In that you do the work but whatever result occurs, whether it is good or bad, does not matter.

    I think outcome indepedence can be a healthy approach to take as it concentrates your energy on what you can control but it disregards what is out of your control which is other peoples behaviour.
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  • Profile picture of the author paul_1
    Desire...when channeled on to the right or just purpose and goals would not lead to suffering instead it will lead to fulfillment especially if desires are met. You will notice that others suffer due to the fact that they are not able to contain themselves. They are the ones whose personal foundation are not strong enough. Successful people does not suffer from unmet desires, instead, this serves as an inspiration.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnWiz
      I think suffering can be seen from different perspectives.

      Here's a quick example...

      While a lady might thinks that she's fulfilling her desires to look beautiful by putting on makeup everyday, imagining doing so brings her true happiness...

      Another person might see a person smearing chemicals on her face everyday, and getting caught up in the endless cycle of Samsara (in buddhist terms)... "Do I look good?"... "What do they think of me?"... "Do I look pretty now?"

      That in itself can be a considered a vicious cycle of pain and pleasure (suffering of change).

      In the same way, when we talk about the life of an Internet marketer, we can look at it from the perspective that he's working hard now because of the desire to achieve a goal in the future, and that when he achieves it he's happy because of this achievement. But is this happiness final? Of course not.

      Life goes on, and he continues to strive for other goals, while going through all the ups and downs along the way. This endless cycle of fulfilling desires can therefore be seen as a whole ball of suffering in itself.
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  • Profile picture of the author iidesu
    It's very hard to extinguish all your natural desires, like sexual desires. So I'd say the point of this quote is to tell people not to be too greedy and learn to contain your desires.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pawpoint
    If you really want something enough (subconciously), then your reality will alter itself to accomodate your needs. Desire, I imagine, would help you on your way to the end result. (ps old Hippy really! lol)
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  • Profile picture of the author AngieDixon
    I wonder...is it desire or frustrated/stifled desire?
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    • Profile picture of the author pcallanan
      BTW, I'm looking for three genius programmers:

      One touchscreen guru,
      One AI sage,
      One interactive graphics pundit.

      Know of any?
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  • Profile picture of the author pcallanan
    Folks, there's a bit of confusion here that comes from taking the statement at face value without going a little deeper into the context.

    In Buddhism, Advaita, and several others (wait till you hear the Christian version!) the point is not to get rid of all the desires. There is nothing wrong with having desires, setting goals, and striving to achieve them. The problem comes when you invest your emotional energy (your heart) in them. Then if you don't get what you want to have or achieve, you allow that to damage your self esteem--actually "self valuation" would be the better term. That's suffering. Once you understand any "failure" does not make you have less value. Once you see that, your "value" can go infinite, because you're the only one that can set it.

    If that all sounds crazy to you, don't worry about it. I had to get pretty old before that realization hit me. So as old guys have said to younger folks for millenia: "You'll see!"
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  • Profile picture of the author Saito
    I desire to be ME. I desire to be in the state of being that I would need to be as successful internet marketer.

    It's getting caught up in the desires of making MORE than you need because of fear of loss that gets you, or being so outcome-dependent that when things don't go your way, you suffer.

    As opposed to just being, and observing the results of your marketing efforts with detachment, like a split-tester analyzing test results. A failed experiment doesn't mean you personally are a failure. It's the craving that's the problem to try and rise above.

    Sure I WANT to make a lot of money in online publishing, but do I need to? Probably not. Try to be less needy.
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  • Profile picture of the author rayzh
    desires are the source of all glory, the foundation of life itself, without desire, you can't possibly enjoy the excitement of competition, the feeling of winning, and the feeling of living. So nobody should diminish desires, but master them to your own needs
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    • Profile picture of the author dunkinbbb
      My two cents:

      "Desire is the source of all suffering."

      Buddha was a pretty insightful guy.

      Consider the mindset (state of being) that generates desire.

      It's "Things / circumstances / life is not okay exactly the way things are - instead they need to be changed somehow, thus fueling the desire.

      If your state of being = things are not okay - that in itself creates suffering. In fact, one might say that is the definition of suffering - wanting thing to be different than the way they are.

      Many have said that the source of happiness - real happiness - like "the peace that surpasses all understanding" kind of happiness - as opposed to the "I just got a new Lexus" kind of happiness - is absolute acceptance of the way thing are right now - regardless of what the little voice in your head - your thoughts say.

      And, I say, paradoxically, that total acceptance of the way things are now, is actually a more powerful place to come from when creating - rather than trying to change what one perceives as wrong.

      Again, just my two cents.

      Best,

      dunkinbbb
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  • Profile picture of the author webworm
    You are right desire are the source of all suffering but it is also the media to get satisfy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Hmm reminds me of "Expectation Creates Frustration."

    I think that's a Taoist one.

    I also thought the Buddhists considered all life to be suffering. We're dying from the moment we're born, and all that. Seems to me the notion was to bond humanity together, basically a reminder to be nice to one another since we're all mortal.
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  • Profile picture of the author perfectlovehere
    Well it depends if someone is desiring something good for the soul and body and mind or evil. If it's a negative and evil thing then of course it's bad. But that doesn't hold true for good things.
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  • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
    I always thought "Comparison was source of all suffering" because until you compare one thing to another how do you know it is bad, or good?
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