Is There Anything You Can Do?

The Buddha proposed that desire was the root of suffering and suggested to his heroes that if they eliminated desire or cling, they might cease from suffering. But you must realize that the so-called teachings of the Buddha are not doctrines in the sense that the Jews and the Christians and the Muslims have doctrines. They are the opening steps in a dialogue. And if you go away and try not to desire, in any way you will very quickly discover that you are desiring not to desire.