The Cause and Effect Chain Caused by Desire

The cause and effect chain caused by desire creates both blessings, as well as curses, in the lives of many persons. The Buddha's teachings include ideas about eliminating desire and attachment from the mind and heart. Most persons, however, do not succeed at eliminating desires from their minds and hearts, though not all desires require elimination.

Good desires are valuable assets

Good desires fill the minds and hearts of men, women and children with hope for a better future. These desires cause men and women to fall in love, marry and create families. These beneficial desires inspire children to do their homework, because they want to please their teacher and achieve success one day. People who want to know God receive inspiration to improve their lots in life, and these people often try to use their gifts to help others.

Sinister desires lead to destructive lifestyles

Sinister desires cause tremendous havoc in the lives of many persons. Individuals who drink alcohol, for example, often develop the habit of drinking so frequently that the word alcoholic eventually comes to describe them. Likewise, the desire to achieve unlimited amounts of money often leads people into gambling addictions.The desire to cheat on loving spouses often leads to adulterous relationships that end up in divorce court.

The cause and effect chain caused by desire is both beneficial and detrimental, depending upon the actual desire. People benefit from knowing how to recognize good desires from bad desires. Those who listen to the good desires of their minds and hearts tend to accomplish their dreams, whereas individuals who run toward destructive desires tend to encounter more problems and set backs, often from an unwillingness to look within.