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Eliminating greed, cruelty etc.

betaboybetaboy Veteran
edited February 2012 in Buddhism Basics
Namaste,

Did the Buddha say we must eliminate greed, desire, lust etc. in the sense that we must just put it out of our heads? Or is lifelong meditation necessary? Or is meditation relevant only after we eliminate the 'lower' impulses like greed?

Thanks,
BB

Comments

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited February 2012
    It takes AGES to eliminate greed. Meditation should start ASAP. It becomes important to discover what tanha means in buddhism. There are course examples such as jealousy is in part greed. The coursist examples are the first you should work on. And then there are subtle levels of tanha: thirst for stimulating ideas, thirst for sensual information, and thirst for existence.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    edited February 2012
    Greed is one of the three poisons mentioned by the buddha and it really has caused so so much suffering over the course of our species existence. It is one thing that really does need to be killed off.
  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    It takes AGES to eliminate greed. Meditation should start ASAP. It becomes important to discover what tanha means in buddhism. There are course examples such as jealousy is in part greed. The coursist examples are the first you should work on. And then there are subtle levels of tanha: thirst for stimulating ideas, thirst for sensual information, and thirst for existence.
    Does thirst equate (at least to an extent) with obsession?

    For example, the thirst for stimulating ideas. Is reading a book giving into "thirst".

    When does wanting something cross the line into being negative?

  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    That's a good question. I do not consider myself wise enough to properly answer it, but the middle way is always a good way to go :) Even monks enjoy watching sunsets and the beauty of nature etc, but I assume most of them learn not to attach themselves to it. The thirst for sensual information could even be shared in a wise manner.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    *Having* stimulating ideas isn't the thirst. The thirst is when you are nervous unless you have mental 'candy'. So yeah it is obsession.
  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    edited February 2012
    *Having* stimulating ideas isn't the thirst. The thirst is when you are nervous unless you have mental 'candy'. So yeah it is obsession.
    Yes. I do think, however, that this concept is sometimes misunderstood.

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    Wanting something crosses the line when we suffer from that want. For example if I want something and I make a plan and work hard to get it that isn't wrong. But the thirst is when you are suffering unless you get that plan. Perhaps neurosis about the wanting is itself an obstacle to achieving your goal say if it disempowers you to handle the rung of the ladder you hold right now. It is suffering if even when you achieve your goal it does not satisfy you. The buddha taught that any conditioned phenomena is unreliable because it is impermanent. So you are young and you enjoy your looks and body. If you take it lightly you can enjoy that experience. But if you develope thirst and fixate on looks or health it leads to 'extra' suffering.

    Another aspect of tanha is that it makes the world more claustrophobic. Anything that deviates from 'good, this is the right one' and you become furtive. Some people tanha is compounded by negativity towards the world (anxiety sorta) or self (depression sorta).
  • ZeroZero Veteran

    Did the Buddha say we must eliminate greed, desire, lust etc. in the sense that we must just put it out of our heads?
    Or is lifelong meditation necessary?
    Or is meditation relevant only after we eliminate the 'lower' impulses like greed?
    You could put it out of your head but it might pop back in again... better to develop some method to eliminate it once and for all.

    If you enjoy doing something, youd want to do it all your life.

    Meditation is always relevant - thinking through your everyday decisions can also help - feel your way through the day.
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    Namaste,

    Did the Buddha say we must eliminate greed, desire, lust etc. in the sense that we must just put it out of our heads? Or is lifelong meditation necessary? Or is meditation relevant only after we eliminate the 'lower' impulses like greed?

    Thanks,
    BB
    Meditation is relevant from the very beginning to the very end. Buddhist meditation leads to insight which is what destroys greed. You can't just "put greed out of your head". "Understanding" is what puts greed out and meditation is one of the necessary components to obtain this understanding. :)

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