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Buddhism teaches that desires lead to suffering. Better words for “desire” are attachment and clinging. Buddhist nun and author Thubten Chodron skillfully addresses the question about desire saying:
“There are different kinds of desire. The desire that gives us problems is the one that over-exaggerates the good qualities of an object, person or idea and clings to it. Such desire is a form of attachment.” An example could be that of a man or woman who is being very emotionally dependent on a partner and clinging to him or her.
"In actual fact, the other person is not nearly as fantastic as our misconceiving attachment is making him/her seem to be,” she observes. There are ‘desires’ which are beneficial and helpful such as the desire to live an ethical life, to pursue enlightenment, to help others, etc. But even those must be developed without ego attachment.
“There are different kinds of desire. The desire that gives us problems is the one that over-exaggerates the good qualities of an object, person or idea and clings to it. Such desire is a form of attachment.” An example could be that of a man or woman who is being very emotionally dependent on a partner and clinging to him or her.
"In actual fact, the other person is not nearly as fantastic as our misconceiving attachment is making him/her seem to be,” she observes. There are ‘desires’ which are beneficial and helpful such as the desire to live an ethical life, to pursue enlightenment, to help others, etc. But even those must be developed without ego attachment.
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