Lessons from the Buddha - Part 3: Extinguishing Desire (tanha)

By Mark Holt

Buddhism directly attacks the materialism and selfishness of human nature by emphasising the importance of extinguishing desire. In doing so Buddhism attacked the class system of Indian religion because a holy person was somebody who renounced material pleasures rather than somebody born into a Brahmin caste. Similarly, the over-consumption of goods and services is also condemned.

Equality of people and moderation in consumption are Godly attitudes and align with the lifestyle and values we are called to in scripture. I John 2:15-17 tells us we must not love or desire the things of this world and that these things are temporary. This is identical to the teaching of the Buddha except for one essential point.

Desire is not condemned in followers of Jesus. As we follow Jesus we discover that what we actually desire is found in Jesus. In doing so, our own desires become based around the will of God. Sundar Singh [1] (6:1.3) teaches that telling a person to extinguish desire is as great a folly as telling a thirsty man to destroy thirst instead of giving him water to drink.

This is the beautiful secret of the Kingdom of God. As I follow Jesus my desires (such as my marriage, my children, my daily work, my possessions) become transformed into a means to discover God's will, worship Christ and reflect Him to others. I am called to transformation not extinction of desire.

Of course, the reality of transformation is the constant reminder of the fallen state of both myself and those around me. How much cleaner it would be to just extinguish desire (along with faith, hope and love). How much easier it would be to just indulge my desires and get a bumper sticker saying Christians aren't different; just forgiven.

The alternative is a practical, personal and messy spirituality that trespasses beyond the boundaries of church, meditation and academic argument into daily life. Let's be grateful to the challenge of Buddhism and eastern religion for that kind of result.

1 Singh's 1922 book, At the Masters feet is available on Internet in text or audio and is a much better work than anything I could write about an Eastern understanding of Jesus.

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[1]  Singh's 1922 book, At the Masters feet is available on Internet in text or audio and is a much better work than anything I could write about an Eastern understanding of Jesus.