What would a Buddhist say: Could "CRAVING" for knowledge and understanding be at the heart of human suffering?

Answer 1

I wouldn't pinpoint it as "the heart of" it, any desire is the heart of suffering, but it certain does make people suffer, yes.
Even when Buddhists meditate, there are teaching to help followers not try so hard. Craving knowledge/understanding can actually prohibit it.

It's like with Zen Buddhism's koans. You're not supposed to think about the right answer, you just "drop" the koan into the container of your mind and "observe" the koan. That's all. The answers come intuitively, and mostly spontaneously.

Answer 2

I wouldn't say that craving for knowledge and understanding is at the heart of human suffering. If you seek knowledge and understanding sincerely, then the results should be positive.

Craving power and wealth could be at the heart of human suffering.

Seeking scientific knowledge for its own sake, without corresponding moral guidance, could be seen as negative. However, it is the use of scientific advances which can cause sufering (see: the atomic bomb).

Answer 3

Craving for anything is desire. Desire is a root cause of suffering. Craving for knowledge will not lead to knowledge. In fact, it will have a detrimental effect on understanding what you seek. Essentially, the knowledge sought is yourself. This is presence awareness, and is eternal, ever present, fresh and now. You are the highest knowledge obscured by duality. When this is understood by effortlessly understanding our true nature, or presence awareness the highest knowledge is understood.

Answer 4

Craving is "attachment" and Buddhism is much about "non-attachment." So I believe, yes, craving for anything creates suffering. Seeking, on the other hand, seems a more rational choice as "craving" no longer muddles the true pictures and ideas.

Answer 5

There is no doubt that craving is the main cause of suffering. Much like the addict who craves alcohol, drugs...some of us seem to crave "awakening/enlightenment". The intensity of the pull in that in that direction is different for all of us.

I am convinced that those who continue to seek...guru hopping, endless reading, tend to suffer more.

I have been a seeker for years and have found many answers, perhaps all the answers. I don't feel 'enlightened'...whatever that means...I no longer suffer unnecessarily.

My answers seem to lie in the "ordinariness" of life, just simple being. No flares going up, no fireworks...not what I expected, but the suffering of seeking is gone!!! Yay team!

Craving for things, the perfect partner, more money, enlightenment...it seems that is what we are in the 'habit' of doing. It runs deep into human behavior.

To say one is SATISFIED is to say "Wow". =D

Answer 6

I can only answer for myself.

I think that craving for knowledge and understanding is very much a huge obstacle. Although on the "good" side of things, its still egotistical and not as rewarding as being yourself.

Answer 7

In advance of and because of is not the same thing. Suffering is as subjective as desire, but does that make objectivity impossible? I could no more be objective without subjective forces any more than I could be born as a computer.

Answer 8

what a beautiful answer, Sakura...Craving already indicate extreme...everything is GOOD in moderation, which humans do not know, roaming from one extreme to another. We cannot exclude anything from a Whole, or add to it, for it is already there in harmonious combination....and that combinations would look differently from one to another.

Answer 9

I doubt so.
To be stagnant and not knowing what makes
the world ticks is pathetic.


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Answer 10

no it is fear and separation that does these things....the craving comes from a belief there is lack.