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Buddhism and the elimination of all desire

By: Mackenzie Hackett

Student number: 202006649

Instructor: Gil Shalev

Due: March 7th, 2022

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Buddhism is a multilayered religious tradition that follows a variety of concepts that

ultimately leads to the goal of nirvana, which is also referred to as Buddhahood. (Stevenson,

Haberman, Wright & Witt, 2018). Nirvana can be described as absolute freedom. Practicing

Buddhism follows this approach. It encompasses “a teaching which aims of removing the vast

array of presuppositions and theories about the nature of reality as ‘this’ or that.” (Shalev, 2017)

Buddha believed there were five components that made up a person. These mechanisms

consecutively begin with form, then sensations, perception, mental formations and

consciousness. (Shalev, 2017) Through these components, humans form desires for material

possessions that is constant because our bodies and mind are self-motivated which does not

eliminate those urges.

Buddha’s teachings recognize a theory of existence. This theory incorporates three marks

of existence. The first theory is a lack of permanence, also referred to as anitya. (Stevenson et al.,

2018) Nothing stays – people are born and die and ideas change. No single thing remains the

same, everything changes. Consequently, objects of desire vary leaving human beings with a

feeling of being unfulfilled. “Moreover, not only are all things continually changing but their

changes also effect subsequent changes in other things.” (Stevenson et al., 2018, p.63) Because

nothing is permanent in the world this tends to create anxiety in human beings. The second

theory of existence states no being or thing is independent, things are actually dependent and

interrelated. The third theory reflects on the issue of suffering and feelings of dissatisfaction that

is connected to dependence on things in the ever-changing world. (Stevenson et al., 2018) These

theories are interconnected and explains the desire of objects. It clarifies how these urges present

a feeling of discontent even when the goal of obtaining material possessions has been achieved.
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According to Buddhism, “a human ‘being’ is really more of a human ‘becoming’”.

(Stevenson et al., 2018, p.65) As humans develop, believing in a separate self can lead to

malicious characteristics such as selfishness and self-centeredness. This way of thinking can lead

to a craving for objects that never seems satisfied. Once a material possession is attained the urge

to want more often takes over consequently leading to a feeling of disappointment. Realizing

there is no distinct self leads to acquiring positive characteristics such as compassion and

kindness for others which develops a pleasing state of mind where the urge for possessions does

not occur.

Humans often have a desire to own material possessions. But why do specific objects not

fulfill our desire? The answer lies in a feeling of insecurity, absence and uncertainty. Humans

often feel the need to fill their lives with goals of what they need and want in life. Often these

goals are unattainable or leave the feeling of being unfulfilled even when achieved. The answer

as to why ultimately leads us to the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are fundamental

in the teaching of Buddhism. The truths surround the nature of reality which is highly regarded

as a universal truth that is taught by the Buddha. The First Noble Truth encompasses feelings of

dissatisfaction and suffering. Humans beings are often uneasy, anxious and disappointed in a

world that is everchanging. Therefore, when an object is desired most often it is only desired for

now because this feeling will not last. Humans then experience unhappiness with the object and

usually continue with this cycle once again. Desiring an object, obtaining the object, no longer

fulfilled with the object and moving onto the next goal in their constantly changing world.

(Stevenson et al., 2018)

The Second Noble Truth states that humans suffer from grasping or cravings. The core of

grasping and cravings avoids change however, lives are constantly changing, so there is no
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permanent self. Craving leads to an intense desire to continue an unwanted situation

indeterminately. Humans often have desires and urges that cannot be satisfied because they try to

hold onto possessions that ultimately cannot be held onto. (Stevenson et al., 2018) Humans are

incapable of eliminating the desire for objects because of the continuum of cravings in the world

in which they live. Grasping for desirable objects is seen as selfish cravings. “It is the thirst for

the will to be, to exist, to become more and more, to accumulate more and more, to have more

and more.” (Stevenson et al., 2018, p. 70) This in turn leads to an incessant cycle of suffering

and a feeling of dissatisfaction. Within the First and Second Noble Truth is where the majority of

the population remains for their lifetime because the desire-urge for specific objects cannot be

overcome since the cravings humans continue to have leads to feelings of discontent.

The Third Noble Truth states that there is an end to suffering. This in turn ultimately

leads to nirvana which can be difficult to describe. Some descriptive terms to explain this

phenomenon is extinguishing, blowing out or ultimate reality. (Stevenson et al., 2018) It refers to

“extinguishing” the cravings or desires one experiences that leads to suffering. Most humans fail

to realize this important phenomenon therefore the desire for objects continues. Unless they

follow the teachings of Buddha strictly the ‘desire-urge’ that humans feel will not be satisfied.

The final and Fourth Noble Truth encompasses a remedy to end all suffering which

ultimately leads to nirvana. This solution is called the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path deals

with three major areas of concern within the Buddhist teachings. Ethical conduct, mental

discipline and wisdom contains the eight practices of the path which should be followed

simultaneously. (Stevenson et al., 2018) Doing so fosters behavior within a person that is not

driven by selfish actions and this is what many humans fail to achieve. Ethical conduct includes

the Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. Our population follows fragments of these
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practices but not fully. Mental discipline is another of the areas of concern which includes Right

Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. This is where we fail miserably. Many

humans do not use their mental capacity to gain a deeper insight into their behavior. The desire

for an object and the feeling of contentment once attained does not give a feeling of satisfaction.

Therefore, humans seek more. The feeling of desire will not be eliminated because the majority

of the population does not possess the mental capacity to do so. The final area of concern is

Wisdom. Wisdom comprises Right Thought and Right Understanding. (Stevenson et al., 2018)

In order for people to reach the point of wisdom they require mental discipline. Most of the

population cannot follow this entire path because their mental willpower is weak so our lives

usually follow the First and Second Noble Truths. Therefore, our urge to seek material

possessions remains regardless of what we obtain.

“Buddhism simply stresses the necessity of first facing a realistic assessment of the

ordinary human condition as characterized by suffering in an effort to move beyond it.”

(Stevenson et al., 2018, p.69) A population that follows the teachings of Buddha will ultimately

feel absolute freedom. Sadly though, the majority of our population never eliminates the desire to

want more because they are in a constant state of suffering and cravings.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Philosophy 1005: Philosophy of Human Nature. © Gil Shalev & Memorial University of

Newfoundland, 2017. - Instructors notes; Week 5

Stevenson, L., Haberman, D. L., Wright, P. M., & Witt, C. (2018). Thirteen Theories of Human

Nature (7th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.