Expert: Justin Choo - 10/25/2007

Question
QUESTION: Lord Buddha has said,"Desire is the cause of all evils".
But if  he would not have desired for knowing the truth of life how could he be able to know the truth of life,it means to desire is must.

ANSWER: Hi Rajiv,

Thanks for asking me.

The "desire" the Buddha was referring to was about sensual desires.  Sensual desires refer to desires of the 5 senses.  These sensual desires are unquenchable.  It is the very nature of physical senses.  Take for example, hunger.  Once the hunger is satisfied with intake of food; the process of depletion starts, and after some time one feels hungry again.  Another aspect of sense desire is the stronger feeling of craving.  One's craving to satisfy one's desire is itself a catalyst to crave for more.  When this craving goes unchecked, one becomes crazy!  So the option is opened to anyone who follows the Buddha's teachings:  to continue feeding these desires with more craving, or to come to one's senses to reduce this crazy cycle of on-going "madness".

As for "desire" to know the truth of life or striving for enlightenment, it is a very different concept.  Here we are talking about one's commitment to reduce one's greed, hatred and delusion until complete eradication.  This is not a life-long process, but countless life-processes.  "Desire" is not an appropriate word to describe this journey towards enlightenment.  “Aspiration” will be a more appropriate word.  Of course anyone can still argue until the cows come home that it is still "desire".  So it is up to you to decide.  No big deal if you still insist that it is "desire".   The important thing is that I have given you my opinion.  See, this is the beauty of Buddhism.

Smile from justinchoo :-)



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for ur answer.
But as u said it was buddha's aspiration to attain enlightenment and to know the truth of life and not the desire, but the word aspiratoin itself  has one meaning as high desire(another is hope to achieve something),also if we consider the latter one then but the question arises that how came the Buddha hope to achieve something in his young age as he even did'nt know thw meaning of enlightenment.He must have desired to know the truth of life.

Answer
Hi Rajiv,

As I had forwarned in my reply that this discussion might prolong because of "semantic".  I also stressed that "desire" in our worldly interpretation involves satisfying the physical senses.  What you are referring is not related to satisfying the physical senses, but searching for the ultimate liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

As for the Buddha's quest (I am trying my best to use a neutral word) to know the truth, it was not a one-life decision, but through a very long period of past existence.  

I am sorry I think this is the best I can answer you.  May I repeat what I wrote:
<<So it is up to you to decide.  No big deal if you still insist that it is "desire".   The important thing is that I have given you my opinion.  See, this is the beauty of Buddhism.>>


Have peace, justinchoo :-)