Is there a place for passion?

[presser_kun]

I'm just beginning my journey outside of Christianity. I've read the quotations from the Dhammapada here on CR, and they confirm something I've known about Buddhism and other eastern philosophies for some time: the goal is to abandon all desire in order to release oneself from suffering, to gain peace, and to gain enlightenment.

But is there no place for passion? Is there not a good kind of passion? Passion for doing good in the world?

Is this just the desire of a Westerner to square an enticing philosophy with his home base, accustomed way of viewing life?

I want the peace offered through the abandonment of self and desire. But I fear that I will wind up sitting on a lotus leaf, so detached from the world that I am of no use to anyone.

Isn't this an expression of extreme selfishness?

These are my honest questions. I look forward to your thoughts on the matter.

peace,

press

[StarshipEnterprise]

I'm no buddhist, but I may be able to help you.

I think getting rid of desires is a somewhat loose translation. The word "attachments" or "egoes" is also used there sometimes. It is describing our desire for self fulfilment, or our attachment to objects used for self-fulfilment. Buddhism also emphasises compassion and mindfulness, which, I guess, could be described as passion for doing good in the world.

This might be wrong, so we should wait for an answer from a buddhist.

[presser_kun]

Interesting.

Of course, I know next to nothing about Buddhism, so I'll be interested in what others have to say, too.

peace,

press

P.S. btw, I'm enjoying the conversations we've been having in various areas of the forum!

[Awaiting_the_fifth]

Regarding a pasion for doing good:

When you reach a point where you feel a true, deep compassion for every living creature in the world, you should reach what could be called a passion for enlightenment, a desire to reach enlightenment at all costs in order to end the suffering you see around you. This is called Boddhichitta.

[presser_kun]

So, then. Buddhists do, indeed, believe that some passion, directed toward a worthy goal, is good.

As I said before, I'm trying to square the little I'm learning with my Western perspective. Ingenuity and can-do spirit are things prized here, and they certainly call for passion in the form of committment to the task at hand.

[Vajradhara]

Namaste Presser Kun,


welcome to CR and thanks for your post.

we need to be a bit specific when discussing this aspect of Buddhist practice, in particular, and Eastern religions in general.

generally speaking, one is actually encouraged to develope the "passion" the "desire", so to speak, to engage in the path of practice. the main concern in this regard is of becoming attached to these feelings.. even when they motivate us to engage in postive ethical and moral actions, in the Buddhist view, execessive attachment to these emotive states is what is being cautioned against.

as a consequence, the transliterations usually simplify the statements to something like "abadon desire." which seems a bit odd, when you think about it... but, there it is.

you touch on another thing... being of use to anyone. this is the primary view that Buddhism operates with, well, at least the Mahayana and Varjayana, we can leave the more intrictcate discussion of the Theravedan for the time being.

Buddhisms raison d'etre, as it were, is to be of assistance to sentient beings.. all of them... in the entire multiverse. as such, how can one being be of benefit to all beings?

this is one of the reasons why Buddhist praxis heavily emphasizes the practice of meditation which can allow a being to discover how they can be of benefit to all beings. without knowing how to actually be of benefit, can one actaully say that their actions are beneficial?

so.. to sum up... passion and desire are fine and good within the Buddhist paradigm. the problem, as it were, with these emotive states is the propensity for our minds to become attached and fixed on these ideas.

metta,

~v

[presser_kun]

Thank you so much for your comments. They are very helpful.

Now, as I begin to delve deeper into Buddhism, attempting to submit myself to its teachings...might you have a recommendation of where to go next?

Thus far I've done little more than read what CR has to say about it. Though good, it's very superficial.

I'm eager to learn more.

Again, thanks for your insightful comments.

peace,

press

[Vajradhara]

Namaste press,


thank you for the post.

there are several good primary sources that you could use, many of which are widely available on the 'net.

for most beings, i feel that this is a wonderful place to get an introduction to the Buddha Dharma:

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/intro_bud.htm

metta,

~v

[presser_kun]

many thanks.