Do you think desire created through the influence of society's artificial values hinders one's ability to ....

Question

... understand the true nature of things?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

Attachment to those values certainly doesn't seem to bring much peace or joy. But I guess the extreme crassness of always wanting more ,might well give people a clue that there's got to be a better way. And it's perhaps easier to see that when one's mind is occupied with trivia rather than survival.

It could be said that religious forms are a deliberate attempt to create a society where spiritual insight is more likely. However we've all seen the actual results of the attempts.
It's probably the case that there're only ever a few in any society that have reached the point where they're really ready to leave psychological security behind.
Gautama the Buddha had that urge 2500 years ago , and others before and since , but even after all this time ,the numbers are low.
I reckon that as long as there are some wise words ,to inspire those who seek, and ideally some fellow travellers ,we can keep the flame burning as an alternative.

Answer 3

A subjective universe inherently hinder's one's ability to understand the true nature of things. Freedom and nirvana are the greatest desires of all. Perhaps you need not only remove yourself from society, but from yourself aswell. Try to see the world from another point of view, all points of view, no point of view.

...or just smoke more gunj, I dono.

Answer 4

If the desire is artificial, then how can one understand anything anyhow?
There's no hope unless truth is in the equation somewhere.
Sometimes you get to the truth via artificiality, but usually not without suffering.
Ain't life grand?
: )