Buddhism in NYC (week 9)
According to Buddhism, the main source of our suffering is our preoccupation with our own desires. Suffering is said to be caused by selfish cravings and desires. The way to enlightenment, for Buddhism, therefore involves detaching from our narrow concern with ourselves, escaping the prison of our own desires and illusions. Do you think it is possible to live according to this teaching in the contemporary United States? Is there a conflict between what Buddhism teaches, and how we are encouraged to think and act in our society?

I'm not sure I totally agree with the Buddhists on this point. I do see that a lot of our dissatisfaction would be greatly diminished if we were able to detach from our "narrow concern with ourselves", and to eliminate our "selfish cravings and desires", but I don't really think this works when we apply it to the sorrow or pain we feel for people we love, when they are hurt or sad. It isn't really a selfish desire or craving that's causing our pain, it's love and empathy that's causing it. But that's another topic, I guess.

I don't really think anyone can completely give themselves over to the Buddhist way of life while living in the US or any similar society, to be honest. It's not that I think we can do nothing about our consumerist, selfish ways - far from it - I think everyone has the ability (and the responsibility) to control that side of themselves. But completely detaching from our desires and cravings? I don't think so. Well, maybe I should say... it's possible, but it would be a huge challenge. Here in New York City, there are so many advertisements, so many shop windows, so many people sitting in cafes and bars, wearing great clothes, carrying shopping bags, so many good looking people walking around, so many amazing apartments, so many fabulous looking dogs being taken for walks, so many shows and exhibitions on ... How are we supposed to feel satisfied with what we have? Buddha would be turning in his grave if he knew how unenlightened I feel most days as I walk home from school along West Broadway, and through Soho. By the time I'm climbing up the stairs of this six floor walk-up in the East Village, I'm just about as unenlightened as you can get. However, I do appreciate what I've got. The sun shines in through my bedroom window, the flowers on my windowsill are coming on lovely, and the cat purrs whenever he sees me. It's all a matter of balance. We can admire things and imagine having them, but we don't have to let the desire to have them take over and become obsessions. When I'm home I don't think there's anything else I need or want. So I'm getting there, Buddha ...