Chapter 6. Equation of Desire
EQUATION OF SENSUAL DESIRE
Sensual
desire is the state of mind which can lead to either [worldly] pleasure or
displeasure. In Buddhism, we regard the
effect of sensual desire as being more negative rather than positive since
sensual desire is one of the negative factors or hindrances that prevent us
from advancing into meditation until attaining enlightenment.
Principally,
the ‘desire’ alone can be either wholesome or unwholesome. When the desire is wholesome, we will wish in
the wholesome way such as eager to practice the Dhamma or develop virtues. When the desire is unwholesome, it causes us
to cling to (1) the material stimulants, and (2) the motivational thought.
The material
stimulants that cause us to have ‘craving’ comprises of (i) sight (ii) sound
(iii) smell (iv) taste, and (v) bodily feeling.
As our mind craves in response to the aforesaid stimulants, it becomes
sensual desire. If the craving is not
fulfilled, our mind turns to be restless and suffering. Thus, it stimulates us to struggle further to
fulfill the sensual desire. This goes on
endlessly since we will have more new desires towards new and different
stimulants that occur from time to time throughout our lifetime.
The
motivational thought works in the same manner as the material stimulants. As such, we keep thinking about past, present,
and future in the craving way wishing for fulfillment. This means that the mind makes the mind
itself craving and desirous. Thus, it
causes our mind to be restless and suffering, especially when the craving is
strong and unfulfilled. Other than the
material stimulants that motivate the mind, it can also work reversely or
responsively that the desirous mind motivates our perceptions (sight, sound,
smell, taste, and bodily feeling) further as well as the desirous mind
motivating the mind itself.
Indeed, if
the mental desire or ‘craving’ can be eliminated or eradicated, the material
stimulants will not be able to negatively stimulate our mind in any way, and the
motivational thought of craving will also cease.
In
consideration of all of the above Buddhist teachings altogether, we can derive
a Dhammonomic equation of Sensual Desire as follows:
Sensual
Desire = (sight + sound + smell + taste + bodily feeling) x Craving
Mental
Desire = Thought x Craving
Desire
= (sight + sound + smell + taste + bodily feeling + thought) x Craving
As such, we
can eliminate the sensual desire with the Threefold Training as follows:
(1) Observing morality for the mind by disciplining
our ‘perceptions’ through sight, sound, smell, taste, and bodily feeling.
(2) Practicing meditation to achieve mental calm
in order to minimize our desirous thought and craving
(3) Using wisdom to contemplate over the Dhamma
in order to know, understand, and realize the truth about sensual desire and
craving on how they work, so we can minimize and/or eliminate them without
wisdom.
By
Pittaya Wong
17
August 2018
Source of our doctrinal study:
Anupubbhigatadhipani Volume 4: The Harm of Sensual
Desire by P. Satitwan
