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Is dedication to social causes a form of attachment?

tim45174tim45174
edited March 2010 in Buddhism Basics
I know that it is a fundamental Buddhist teaching that one should act with compassion. However, if someone is dedicated to achieving a certain goal to benefit society, isn't it then true that this person is attached to their vision of achieving the goal? Does this mean that a Buddhist should not attempt to solve social problems since it would cause suffering to be attached to their goal?

Comments

  • JasonJason God Emperor Arrakis Moderator
    edited March 2010
    No.
  • BaileyDBaileyD Explorer
    edited March 2010
    Yes.
  • tim45174tim45174
    edited March 2010
    explanations please?

    what is the point of clinging to a goal of social betterment if everything is fleeting and impermanent?
  • JasonJason God Emperor Arrakis Moderator
    edited March 2010
    One generally has to have the desire to achieve a goal in order to achieve it, even nibbana (SN 51.15). The real question is whether the goal itself is one worth pursuing. In the case of social justice, I'd say yes.
  • GlowGlow Veteran
    edited March 2010
    From the Bhagavad-Gita (a Hindu scripture, but one that has a Buddhist influence): "Set thy heart upon thy work, but never on its reward; work not for a reward, but never cease to work." (trans. Juan Mascaro)

    Another translation: "Focus your mind on action alone, but never on the fruits of your actions. Your goals should never be the fruits of your actions, nor should you be attached to nonaction." (trans. George Thompson)

    In other words, you can act compassionately, but do not cling too hard to a certain goal. Compassionate action in itself leads to good, but it will perhaps not manifest itself in quite the way you imagined.
  • sukhitasukhita
    edited March 2010
    Social work undertaken out of compassion and loving-kindness, without any selfish motives, is a wholesome (or skillful) action. It all atarts, naturally, with a desire to help. If there if no selfishness involved, then, IMHO, 'attachment' or 'clinging' is not likely to arise.
  • NamelessRiverNamelessRiver Veteran
    edited March 2010
    I know that it is a fundamental Buddhist teaching that one should act with compassion. However, if someone is dedicated to achieving a certain goal to benefit society, isn't it then true that this person is attached to their vision of achieving the goal?

    Attachment is something that happens in your mind. It has nothing to do with the actual objects. You can be attached to a log, to killing people, and to helping them.

    I would say, no, a hypothetical person on a hypothetical situation doesn't give enough data to examine whether or not they are attached to something. What matters is on their mind, not the way they act.
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    edited March 2010
    tim45174 wrote: »
    I know that it is a fundamental Buddhist teaching that one should act with compassion. However, if someone is dedicated to achieving a certain goal to benefit society, isn't it then true that this person is attached to their vision of achieving the goal? Does this mean that a Buddhist should not attempt to solve social problems since it would cause suffering to be attached to their goal?
    Attachment in Buddhism means attachment to things as "I" and "mine".

    So, yes, if trying to change the world is full of ego, there will be alot of suffering.

    :)
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