Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 1/20/2010

Question
I have been thinking about "gain".  I used to think that "wanting" was the confusion, and now I feel that wanting is not the problem, rather, the greater tangle feels like it relates to hoping to "gain" something from anyone or anything, because gain in this sense seems to relate to building up the ego and separateness, in some way.  Wanting actually feels like it could be OK, as long as I'm not seeking to gain anything from my want - ie my wanting might show me a direction, which is fine as long as I'm not ensnared by what I want by thinking I MUST have it.  Somehow it feels like the secret or overt need to gain at all is a much greater root problem than I ever previously considered.  Would you be able to comment on this and perhaps send me in the direction of teachings that might help me with further contemplation?  Thank you.

Answer
Dear Elaine,

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions.

I applaud you on your thinking process. If possible, I would like to share a few comments.

1. Gaining is the result of wanting. Therefore, there is not much difference. The difference resides in the result of the gain. If it is a positive gain, we say that gaining is good, wanting it good. If we say the gain was negative, we say that gaining is bad, wanting is bad.

2. Gaining and wanting are two parts of the same process.

3. Instead of thinking about wanting in general or gaining in general think about WHAT you want. WHAT you gain. Can it really be gained. When you gain, what do you gain? An object or a feeling? A concept? or Reality?

4. If you want to think about wanting or gaining, think about the suffering, pain, dangers and perils wanting and gaining puts you in. Is it worth it? Without this step, you will never stop wanting or gaining.

5. The trick to penetrating the veil of delusion in regards to gain and want is to contemplate on individual instances of gain or want. Many people try to contemplate the entire CONCEPT of want or gain. This is equivalent to putting a whole turkey into your mouth in one bite (a very hard thing to do). It is more effective to put smaller pieces one at a time. When we develop our sense of wanting and gaining, we do it - one situation at a time. So, if we were to want to un-develop our wanting and gaining, we must also do it one situation at a time. For example, when we put our clothes on, we do it one at a time. When we take them off, we take them off, one at a time.

Once again, I applaud you on your contemplations. You are on the right path. I hope you break through!

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo

PS. There is a very good lecture given by an Arahant monk dealing with wanting - go to
http://www.kpyusa.org/luang-por-thoon-/selected-teachings/410-kuan-nieng-discour...