I find it interesting
that both Buddhism and Christianity have negative things to
say about the notion of “desire”.
According to Buddhist teaching, the idea of desire or “wanting” is a condition
of the mind that should be overcome and banished. Desire is an unbalanced state. It is the feeling of being
unfulfilled or “needing something more”.
It is from this mental state of desiring something that we experience
unhappiness, unsettling thoughts…anxiety. Desire is the root of all the
unhappiness that we experience. Nirvana is the condition where desire is
placated, pacified. Nirvana is the absence of desire. Nirvana is the state
where we will feel whole; but, ironically, through (almost?) self-annihilation.
In Christianity there is a scripture verse that comes to
mind about desire:
“But each one is
tempted when, by his own DESIRE, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after
DESIRE has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown
gives birth to death.” James 1:14
Another verse comes to mind regarding this "losing of the self".
"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."
Matthew 10:39
Another verse comes to mind regarding this "losing of the self".
"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."
Matthew 10:39
So, according to Christianity, it is also desire that leads to sin, unhappiness…a
corrupt nature. Adam and Eve desired
the fruit in the Garden of Eden. They acted upon their desire and it led to their downfall. This led to the Fall of the
human race. Heaven is like
Christianity’s Nirvana, where there is no more desire or sin and where those
who end up there feel complete--and we do this by losing the self for Jesus.
