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Everyday practice of desire, liking, disliking, etc.
mynameisuntz
Explorer
"When objects make contact with the eye, observe and identify them; know what action has to be taken with whatever is seen. But don’t permit liking or disliking to arise. If you permit the arising of liking, you will desire; if you permit the arising of disliking, you will want to destroy."
This came out of a university text summing up Buddhism. What do we extend this meaning to? If I see a new cell phone I like, I understand that I should not like or dislike it; it will only lead to desire or resentment.
But what if you see something like a beautiful landscape. Does the definition of "like" in this scenario differ from the definition of "like" in the cell phone example? What if we see a beautiful photograph of a landscape - should we "like" it because of its beauty, or should we not "like" it because we will then desire to go there and see it for ourselves, and subsequently that can lead to suffering?
Basically: what is the operational definition of "like" in the initial passage?
Thank you, all :]
This came out of a university text summing up Buddhism. What do we extend this meaning to? If I see a new cell phone I like, I understand that I should not like or dislike it; it will only lead to desire or resentment.
But what if you see something like a beautiful landscape. Does the definition of "like" in this scenario differ from the definition of "like" in the cell phone example? What if we see a beautiful photograph of a landscape - should we "like" it because of its beauty, or should we not "like" it because we will then desire to go there and see it for ourselves, and subsequently that can lead to suffering?
Basically: what is the operational definition of "like" in the initial passage?
Thank you, all :]
0
Comments
Likes and dislikes are natural.
The real practice is to see that thoughts and emotions are empty; that they are not you.
The clinging stems from the idea that we think we and all the things around us are independent entities. The realisation of emptiness (sunyata) means seeing that everything is empty of such an independent self, and hence there is no separation.
So enjoy a lovely sunset, but don't cling to it, don't wish it would last longer, don't compare it with other sunsets. After all, if you do any of those things, then you aren't actually paying attention to the sunset at hand!
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Tanha
If our mind realises impermanence, the "liking" or "enamourment" with the sunset will fade
As for the passage quoted, it is a meditation exercise or that which forms the predominant practise of meditation
If we aspire to develop the path & especially samadhi, we must master the abandoning of 'liking' & 'disliking'
However, when we must make choices, obviously there is a preference there. But that falls into the part of the quote, which states: "know what action has to be taken with whatever is seen"
For example, if you need a new cell phone, you choose the cell phone that best suits your needs
Or if you want to start a forest monastery, you choice the one with the most pleasant forest
Things have their 'pleasant' & 'unpleasant' or 'practical' and 'unpractical' qualities
The 'liking' and 'disliking' referred to is that such as of a child, when I child says: "Mummy, I don't like brussel sprouts, I don't want to eat brussel sprouts, I like McDonalds, I want to eat at McDonalds'
Kind regards
DD