Buddhism: Why Does Craving Cause Suffering?

Craving or Desire or Ambition what ever we call it is the main factor involved in all the sorrows and sufferings human beings have sustained through out their history, and are confronting it in the present and will continue to suffer by it in the future. This is the “Second Noble Truth” as it is often referred by Buddhists.( HUMPHREYS, 1995)

This world is full of beautiful things which have such and appeal that we have very intense desire for them and they compel us to try to get and enjoy all the experiences man’s nature is full of ambition and desire and he wants every thing and any thing which appeals him. He wants delicious food, jolly gathering, beautiful life partners, and riches of the world, fame, prosperity, health and a never ending life. What ever action people take in order to fulfil their desires and satisfy there wits can be referred as craving. The main problem lies to the fact that all these pleasures, tastes and good experiences are never leading to eternal satisfaction and happiness, there will always come a time when all these things will consumed and finished leaving our never satiating senses to sorrows and grief. People often reiterate all these practices but it always resulted in the same dissatisfaction and sorrow ness. (Harvey, 1990)

Conclusion:

Thus as we can see that suffering is one of the Three Marks of Existence i.e. Dukkha which are the core of Buddhism so we can easily conclude that suffering is undeniable in the existing world or what ever exist has to suffer to an extent and one of the major cause of suffering is desire and ambition which lead to and continuous dissatisfaction and unhappiness which is the result of short lasting pleasures, joys and experiences. What ever you try satisfying your senses will lead to unhappiness and suffering.

References:

• C. HUMPHREYS, (January 17, 1995) “The Wisdom of Buddhism” RoutledgeCurzon; 1st edition
• Peter Harvey, (May 25, 1990), “An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (Introduction to Religion)” Cambridge University Press