2006-09-08 05:11:12 · 38 answers · asked by gilly 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No it isn't, desire is just an excuse for weakness. As far as I can tell, in my experience, lack of will power and self-knowledge is the root of all evil.
Not being able to resist your desires because you have no self knowledge may lead you to commit evil acts. Not knowing which desires to resist and which to go with may also lead to evil.
Desire is an important part of the human condition, without which we would not experience all the highs and lows that life has to offer.
2006-09-08 05:19:54 · answer #1 · answered by Fluorescent 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The guy who said "good" is the root of all evil is right. I would go one further though and say that good is borne of love and joy, while evil is borne of fear and ignorance.
Desire comes from the illusion of separation and the perception of lack that is created. We desire things that we feel are necessary to be complete. And some do evil things to achieve the things they desire. But desire is merely a symptom of perceived lack which is derived from the feeling of separation that is in turn fueled by ignorance and fear.
2006-09-08 06:47:59 · answer #2 · answered by Bran McMuffin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Desire is the root of suffering. Suffering may lead to an act that people would call evil, but not necessarily. Still, suffering is not much fun, so it's best to let go of desire and just be.
2006-09-08 05:19:03 · answer #3 · answered by rabid_scientist 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Love Of Money is the root of all evil. Money is not evil. Loving it can lead to evil, for it is the root of all Evil.
2006-09-08 06:01:15 · answer #4 · answered by DIVA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, desire is actually prayer. For that which we desire usually is good for us....but of course want is different, and want is what is termed evil. Wanting something for purposes that are not yours to have or because of envy hate or fear...is certainly a step into the world of evil.
2006-09-08 05:16:33 · answer #5 · answered by kickinupfunf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how can the desire to help be root to evil?
2006-09-08 05:14:13 · answer #6 · answered by knu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
Money is
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
2006-09-08 05:17:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Desire is a natural and concomitant factor of the innate nature of the soul. Desire cannot be extinguished, as many spiritual aspirants believe. Desire can however, be transformed. Material desire is the source of bondage in this world, whereas spiritual or transcendental desire is the source of liberation.
I’d like to give the analogy of a computer. A computer has hardware, an operating system and a human operator. The conditioned soul has a gross material body (the hardware), a subtle material body composed of mind, intelligence and false ego (the software) and then the self, or soul (the operator)
Various forms of yoga, Buddhism and other spiritual paths emphasize control of the mind. It is however, mentioned by Sri Arjuna while enquiring of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, that controlling the mind is “more impossible than controlling the wind”. The secret to controlling the mind is not annihilating ones thought process but to fixing the mind on the transcendental form of the Lord.
Prasanta manasam hy enam yoginam sukham uttamam
Apaiti santa rajasam brahma bhutam akalmasam (Gita 6.27)
“The yogi whose mind is fixed on Me verily attains the highest happiness. By virtue of his identity with Brahman, he is liberated, his mind is peaceful, his passions are quieted, and he is freed from sin.”
Inversely, allowing the mind to focus constantly on material gratification leads one to further states of entanglement and bondage
Uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadhayet
Atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah (Gita 6.5)
“One must elevate oneself by one’s own mind, not degrade oneself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.”
Material desire culminates in lust – especially sex desire. Sex desire is considered the primary driving force of the conditioned soul and practically the entire material creation is revolving around sexual attraction. The attraction between male and female is the fundamental principal of material existence.
Avrtam jnanam etena jnanino nitya vairina
Karma rupena kaunteya duspurenanelana ca (Gita 3.39)
“Thus a mans pure consciousness is covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.”
Material desire is the source of “evil” in the sense that it keeps us chained to the cycle of repeated birth and death and illusion. Transforming material desire, or lust, into the desire to worship and serve the Supreme Lord brings about peace, tranquility and spiritual bliss. No material enjoyment equates to transcendental happiness. Material enjoyment is always flawed, like eating sweet rice which is full of sand.
2006-09-08 05:46:05 · answer #8 · answered by stokakrishnadas 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be but I think meanness is the root of all evil.
2006-09-08 05:16:56 · answer #9 · answered by Dr. H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No america is the current root of all evil!
2006-09-08 05:16:34 · answer #10 · answered by Nick B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋