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Primitive religion is not believed, it is danced!

Arthur Darby Nock

Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
And only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

Elizabeth Browning



Thursday, April 7, 2022

On Craving (the wrong things)

I want what I want, how I want it when I want it

 

whether we admit it or not,

this is how many of us function

 

we have our desires

our cravings

our motivations

 

volition

is powerful

 

what we desire, what we crave, matters

a good motivation can bring us wellbeing

and can bring peace and joy to others

 

a bad motivation can bring suffering

not just to ourselves

but to all those around us

 

the Buddha suggested there are four deadly cravings

wealth, power, sex, and fame

(not necessarily in that order)

 

if we look at the teachings of Jesus

we see much the same message

sell all that you have and give

the first shall be last

the great shall serve

don’t covet

 

it is not that these things are inherently bad

it is just that if they are our motivation

if they are why we do what we do

if they are the values toward which we live

 

they make us bad

 

the Buddha likened our volition

to two strong men dragging one to a fire

a fire that will consume and destroy

 

There is, it seems, one motivation

that does not lead toward suffering

 

the desire to help others

the desire to heal

to liberate

to comfort

to bring understanding and awakening

to bring joy

 

this motivation comes from only one play

our connection with the Sacred

our connection to what some call God

our connection to that power that wants

to heal

to liberate

to comfort

to bring understanding and awakening

 

that wants to bring joy to us

 

Love God with all your heart soul mind and strength

And love those around you, all those around you

As yourself

 

Love God, let God love you

take that love in

then pass it on!

 

we have seen

how destructive it is when wealth, power, sex, and fame

drive our lives

 

we have seen how beautiful it can be

when the desire to serve

is the energy that motivates

 

the fact is simple

there is only one way to get

what we really want

to love God

love ourselves (in a healthy way)

and then love others

 

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