Lessons In Practical Buddhism - Sirimangalo.Org

haven’t studied the Buddha’s teaching, whether they be
Buddhists or non-Buddhists have a very hard time seeing the
danger inherent in craving. They generally think that their
likes and dislikes are what make them who they are; this is
exactly the problem, that we cultivate some conception of
self, of “I”, of “what I like and dislike”, when actually there is
no “I”, when actually we’re creating our personalities as we
go along. Out of ignorance, we mistake the addictions
cultivated through habitual craving as a self, and so it is
ignorance that continues the cycle here as well.
In order to justify our cravings, we say, “I like this, I like
that,” as though this were adequate justification for the
craving. Self-affirmation is the connection between craving
and addiction. At the time when we crave something, we
think, “yes, that’s something I like, this is my preference,”
and this strengthens and solidifies the craving into a habit.
So, there comes to be addiction where we cling to the object,
and are unable to let it go. We may become so unable to
bear its absence that we will actually cause great suffering
for ourselves and others if we don’t get it. This is the great
danger inherent in simply liking something: that we are not
static creatures. We are dynamic, and everything we do and
think affects our nature. Craving gives rise to clinging; you
can’t stop it simply by force of will. You can’t simply wish for
liking to stay as just liking or craving without giving rise to
clinging.
Part Four: Suffering
Clinging gives rise to becoming, which refers to the creative
process – creating circumstances wherein we can manifest
what we want and avoid what we do not. Becoming means
cultivating and building up – often building up a huge ego or
identification with reality as “who I am”: “my status in life,
my stable reality, my home, my car, my family” and so on.
Based on the cultivation of clinging, we build up our whole
reality. The answer to why beings are so diverse – why some
are rich while some are poor, some are healthy while some
are sick, etc. – is based very much on the paths we have
chosen from life to life. Our families, our careers, our
personalities, our religious and political affiliations and views
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