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Is having ambition in life a source of Dukkha?
I think this is a really simple question..
I have quite a lot of ambition, and I have always been told that I can achieve it (being quite a high grade student) I just wonder, If something you are holding onto is something that makes you happy should you keep hold of it or just let go of the idea?
I wouldn't know what to do with myself otherwise, I enjoy what I do and to be frank, Im quite good at it..
I have quite a lot of ambition, and I have always been told that I can achieve it (being quite a high grade student) I just wonder, If something you are holding onto is something that makes you happy should you keep hold of it or just let go of the idea?
I wouldn't know what to do with myself otherwise, I enjoy what I do and to be frank, Im quite good at it..
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Comments
Then why the doubts?
A co-operative Engineering Firm (in theory) is my ideal blueprint for my future..
You asked about dukkha though. According to Buddhism, the extent to which you become attached to the personal gain and the objects of personal gain may be a source of dukkha. Dukkha is defined as unsatisfactoriness. To the extent that you are bothered by this feeling of unsatisfactoriness, that will apparently be stressful in your life.
Personally I am not bothered by what I do at all, I enjoy it as I said. I can't imagine myself doing anything less. I just wonder if one day that will change and It will catch up with me.
For now, I am very happy in what I do.
Aspiration is more wholesome. It isn't so egocentric.
I'm not clear which element you are referring to. I guess I understand by your answer that it's not hurting anyone.
But the classic Buddhist question is, why do you necessarily want to "stay afloat in this society"?. Why are you doing this as opposed to, say, becoming a monastic?
I built a successful art career on ambition then had a crisis when Buddhist practice made ambition unsustainable. The drive eventually disappeared along with the insecurities behind it. It was amazing to see how much ambition is just insecurity. It took a while to settle into a different way of doing things, working for love of the work, and as a Right Livelihood.
Ambition is dukkha.
Engineering students seem to be the geekiest of all students, at least computing students do something that people can find slightly interesting.
I can't exactly quit now, I work in a spar shop.
I love engineering, it makes me happy. Not even my girlfriend has any idea of what I do. :P
I do it for the fulfillment I get everyday when Im working on some stupidly complicated equation.. Hard work is relieving
In fact, i dont know why I asked now
Maybe this.....
Ambition: I want to be successful, I am talented and want to realize my potential.
Aspiration: This will unfold and be allowed to bloom. I want to be at peace, fullfill my reponsibilities, and love what I do.
maybe others will see it differently
Sounds great!
even better
Don't worry about ambition, but keep the mind alert to recognise craving and attachment when they crop up. Ambitions can be wholesome or unwholesome. Think about the ambition to meditate daily, for example, that is good. But when you start craving for certain experiences or achievements, then that could be a stumbling block. Craving and attachment always lead to dukkha.
I am also an engineer and I used to be ambitious in my profession. I started three companies and used to work 60-hour weeks. Not any more. But if you are young that is no problem. If you are successful then you can get carried away. Don't be too ambitious, I mean ambitious at the expense of compromising personal or ethical principles.
Cheers, Thomas
I've seen people setting goals and when they can't achieve it, they get really depressed like the world came crashing down and couldn't get out of it. That is what I view as obsession or too strong an attachment as if that is the only way they can be happy. Understanding that your goal is a way to happiness is fine but viewing it as THE way to happiness is not. At least, that is how I view it.
So it all depends on what the definition of ambition is to begin with. If one interprets ambition as "right effort" part of the 8 fold path, ambition is wholesome.
But even in business you can find a way to bring awareness practice into the business. Find out what shunyata and compassion mean in the context of both meditation and daily life. I recommend Pema Chodron's meditation CD set http://www.clearlightvideos.net/
http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0865209320.1277734096@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfadekkikgegjcefecekjdffidfij.0&productID=SP_TRUE_000188
if you are drawing a blank on those topics...
But a great thing about business is it puts food on the table and gives you a sphere of contact and connections in the world. You can turn those connections into an ego bananza with the power of your mind. Or you can turn those connections into the path of enlightenment.
The way I see it, there are two basic reasons why a person performs a task. We can perform a task for its natural benefit or for its auxiliary benefits.
You study engineering for its own benefit; you love what you study and it brings you joy and fulfillment.
In the future, I'm sure, your study will bring you auxiliary benefits; your love of engineering will support you financially.
This is the best of both worlds.
Sometimes, people lose sight of the natural benefit of performing a task, and get obsessed with auxiliary benefits, such as wealth and prestige. I'd call this the negative side of ambition. It's clear this side of ambition can be destructive.
I don't think that will happen to you, though. I think your joy will inspire others and bring you a very happy life.
That sounds fair enough. I just don't see having goals as being the same as ambition, being ambitious. Anyway, this is an interesting topic that touchs on many things, like the confusion of licence with non-attachment.
Metta
So what is the general working definition? Would it be something like "a drive or motivation to get a particular thing or accomplish a particular task?" If so, what if the task is "to understand and practice the Buddhas teaching and get enlightenment"? Is that not an ambitious and wholesome task?
Suffering will come into play though if you cling to this activity, which it sounds like you do when you say you couldn't imagine doing anything less. It may arise in the form of worrying about not being able to find a job, or being fired, or not being good enough to work anywhere. Or it may come in the form of depression if one of these things happens. Be careful not to invest too much into one thing, because nothing is guaranteed.
I will also mention that I read a book a while ago about different personality types. There is a type, called the Rational, that really does find life fulfillment and satisfaction from mastery of a craft like engineering or some other highly intellectual field. The book was called Please Understand Me II, in case you're interested. So I'm saying to keep in mind to do what's right for you. It may be that you end up falling flat on your face, but that will be valuable experience. To practice Buddhism, just look and listen, watch what you're doing and why you're doing it. Meditate. Even if you don't do anything about it, this kind of observation will make sure that whatever you do is used on the path.
Good luck with the rest of school!
All attachment will lead to suffering directly or indirectly. But it is not possible to give up all ambition for mundane life unless you ordain.
My solution is simple. I set my highest ambition at Cultivating the Dhamma. No other aspiration or ambition is allowed to rise above. Then everything else falls into place.
Hope it helps.
/Victor
Ambition could be of use in (Zen) practice because it will become increasingly frustrated. That frustration is usefull when driven into a wall.
However, if you ever aspire to do anything, earn a good living, win an internet message board argument, even become enlightened, you are in the same boat.
I suggest you go ahead and live a productive life, all the while enjoying the moment and not becoming too attached to the results, understanding that sometimes you will have successes and other times failures. Failures can be very very helpful in life!
After all no one can become enlightened unless they are first deluded.
I am a hockey goalie. I love it! Every game I know I might win, or I might lose. If I knew I would win every time it would get pretty boring. Certainly I try to win every game, but I know it won't always happen.
Sometimes when I allow a goal I get mad because I know I did something wrong, but it only lasts for a second and then I let it go.
Other times I realize what I should have done and that goal will help make me a better goalie.
At the end of the game, win or lose, I enjoy a laugh and beverage with the other players.
At the most basic level, the ambition to not be hungry creates a lot of drive! We also need protection/shelter from extremes of temperature and weather. Beyond that, we get more and more into the realms of attachments ... one can argue clothing is a basic need, but just how many pairs of heels does a woman need!? And the big attachments are to comfort, convenience and security/predictability. Another attachment is for stimulation and not being bored.
It is these attachments that create our suffering.
Yes, ambition is one form of attachment, and therefore creates suffering.
there is nothing wrong with ambition and success.
I agree that there is nothing "wrong" with ambition and success.
But if you look at the definition of "ambition", there isn't much room for "eliminating grasping" ....
dictionary.com (below) defines the word "ambition" three ways, each definition using the word "desire". Therefore, it is reasonable to view the word "ambition" as being synonymous with a state of desiring.
Nothing wrong with desiring, nothing wrong with being ambitious, nothing wrong with not wanting enlightenment. Most of us only think we want enlightenment anyway, because we still want all the perks from ... money to lovers to health to happiness to self-esteem to ... darn, hot fudge sundaes! Nothing wrong with that. We are all only where we are, and it doesn't make sense to pretend we are further down the path than we are.
Pardon me ... I going to go get myself a hot fudge sundae:o
am·bi·tion
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–noun 1. an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment: Too much ambition caused him to be disliked by his colleagues.
2. the object, state, or result desired or sought after: The crown was his ambition.
3. desire for work or activity; energy: I awoke feeling tired and utterly lacking in ambition.
Non-clinging is letting it go when it is time to let it go. It doesn't mean giving up your possessions or your ambitions.
Giving up sounds like a forceful act while letting go is a natural way of being.
How do you cultivate the Dhamma, may I ask?