Wisdom Wide and Deep: A Practical Handbook for Mastering Jhana and Vipassana

by Shaila Catherine

Desire has the characteristic of projecting onto an object attractiveness that the object itself doesn’t intrinsically possess. When you are entranced by beautiful appearances, you see what you want to see, rather than what is actually present. The misperception inherent in craving embellishes objects with the illusion of desirability or hate-ability — the illusion that the object can bring or destroy happiness. But desire and craving never actually result in fulfillment.

Desire arises when there is incorrect attention to pleasant feelings, whether it is a primitive craving for barbecued ribs, a refined attraction for cultural arts, an inclination toward sophisticated intellectual pleasures, or a subtle craving to repeat a perfectly tranquil meditation. Desire removes you from the direct perception of present experience and seduces you into a mental realm of hope and craving.

With the development of wisdom, you will understand that sensual desire is not pleasure; it is suffering; it is a force that inhibits the deep peace and rest you seek.