A Glob of Tar;. We Must Grow Weary of Craving (Article)

Cloud

We must grow weary of craving
Read the full article Here.

We’re stuck on feeling like a monkey stuck in a tar trap. A glob of tar is placed where a monkey will get its hand stuck and, in trying to pull free, the monkey gets its other hand, both feet, and eventually its mouth stuck, too. Consider this: Whatever we do, we end up stuck right here at feeling and craving. We can't separate them out. We can't wash them off. If we don't grow weary of craving, we're like the monkey stuck in the glob of tar, getting ourselves more and more trapped all the time.

– Upasika Kee Nanayon, "A Glob of Tar"

Hanzze

Actually rats are caught in tar traps. In a monastery here they had used such a trap. There was a trap where two have been caught in it. Both thinking the other rat is the reason why the can not flee, they bite each other till one was heavenly hurt and for sure next to death.

To catch a monkey one needs to take a pot with a small opening and put an apple inside. The monkey would grasp it and its fist would be to big to come out again. His desire does not allow him to let go.

If we are trapped like rats, we have a real problem. Without external help it doesn't looks good. *smile* If so, look that the helper is not also just a rat.

Cloud

Yeah I wouldn't go that far into it! It was less confusing before.
I think the article is trying to make the simple point that the alleviation of suffering is not found through the fulfillment of craving. It's found when craving ceases. (Always to the essence of the Buddha's teachings, the Four Noble Truths.)

Another quote from the article: "Nibbana is the extinguishing of craving, and yet we like to stay with craving—so how can we expect to get anywhere at all? We'll stay right here in the world, right here with stress and suffering, for craving is a sticky sap. If there's no craving, there's nothing: no stress, no rebirth. But we have to watch out for it. It's a sticky sap, a glob of tar, a dye that's hard to wash out."

Hanzze

*smile* so maybe I add one

The Tail of the Snake

We human beings don't want suffering. We want nothing but pleasure. But actually, pleasure is nothing but subtle suffering. Pain is blatant suffering. To put it in simple terms, suffering and pleasure are like a snake. Its head is suffering; its tail is pleasure. Its head contains poison. Its mouth contains poison. If you get near its head, it'll bite you. If you catch hold of its tail it seems safe, but if you hold onto its tail without letting go, it can turn around and bite you just the same. That's because both the head of the snake and the tail of the snake are on the same snake.

Both happiness and sadness come from the same parents: craving and delusion. That's why there are times when you're happy but still restless and ill at ease — even when you've gotten things you like, such as material gain, status, and praise. When you get these things you're happy, but your mind isn't really at peace because there's still the sneaking suspicion that you'll lose them. You're afraid they'll disappear. This fear is the cause that keeps you from being at peace. Sometimes you actually do lose these things and then you really suffer. This means that even though these things are pleasant, suffering lies fermenting in the pleasure. We're simply not aware of it. Just as when we catch hold of a snake: Even though we catch hold of its tail, if we keep holding on without letting go, it can turn around and bite us.

So the head of the snake and the tail of the snake, evil and goodness: These form a circle that keeps turning around. That's why pleasure and pain, good and bad are not the path.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/chah/insimpleterms.html

Cloud

Good one!

ThailandTom

I mentioned something relating to craving in a different thread, I heard a monk in a talk mention that to actually properly begin our practice, we should be rid of all cravings as that is the only way to truly gain right view and head on down to liberation town. The link and the monk I have subsequently come to forget, but the words stand very clear in my mind.

Hanzze

min. 8 precepts, yes (right livelihood) *smile* rid of all would be not possible (before liberation) but a good amount.

ThailandTom

You could still be rid of everything but have cravings for them, I think they are two different things, getting rid of items and getting rid of attavhments. One could possibly have many things but no cravings, (hard yes, but no doubt possible). The easiest way to go about it though is obviously to have very little or just what you need to stay alive and well.

On another subject briefly, where are you from and where do you live Hanzze, obviously somewhere in the middle east or asia?

Hanzze

If it is so easy for you, 10 precepts are good. I promise you success if you do it seriously. *smile* Some things about craving, you would soon find out.

Cambodia