Dependent Origination: Letting Go
Last updated: August 21, 2024 Read in fullscreen view
Recommended for you
The more we desire happiness the more elusive it seems and repressing one’s desires leads to unhappiness. Based on the idea of dependent origination, maybe letting go of the “pursuit of happiness” and of the repression of desires is the way to less suffering and more happiness.
Ignorance conditions volitional impulses; volitional impulses condition consciousness; consciousness conditions body and mind; body and mind condition the six senses; the six senses condition sense contact; sense contact conditions feeling; feeling conditions craving; craving conditions clinging; clinging conditions becoming; becoming conditions birth; birth conditions aging and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair. Thus arises the whole mass of suffering.
Thus, the cause of suffering is ignorance conditioned by our impulses. To prevent suffering, we need to understand our desires. After understanding them, we can let go of them instead of acting on them or repressing them. Only after letting go can one be happy.
| About the Author | Erin Meyer | Running the streets and advocating for sustainable eats. | Running the streets and advocating for sustainable eats. |
Explore more on these topics
Guest Blogging: The Definitive Guide
