In this book Traleg Kyabgon discusses the notion of desire from Buddhist and other perspectives. He reviews commonly held beliefs of desire that are often misguided and can be diametrically opposed. On the one hand there is the belief that desire is an important human experience that is natural, which leads to happiness and pleasure. Then there is the juxtaposition that desire is a type of demon whose expression leads to diminishment and destruction. There has been a long standing belief in some Eastern and Western religious and philosophical traditions that all forms of desire are bad and that our ultimate goal is a state of complete desirelessness. The assumption of these traditions being, if we dont desire anything we will not have any concerns. If we dont have any concerns we will be completely content, and completely happy. That is not the view of Buddhism, particularly in relation to the distinction between the ultimate goal of attaining enlightenment and the relative, more immediate aim of wanting to improve and elevate oneself. There is a litany of human foibles, misdemeanors, and misconduct that comes from unmediated desire. When the desire is not controlled or managed effectively it can manifest as very destructive eruption. Nevertheless we should not then conclude that we have to extinguish desire altogether. To overcome destructive or demeaning desires requires one to harness a stronger desire to motivate oneself towards a more positive direction and goal. This requires insight and skill to overcome highly habitualized tendencies that can lead to a type of entrapment, to then produce a positively motivated approach that allows one to desire freely producing enriched meaning, outcomes and experiences. Traleg Kyabgon explores the Buddhist notion of desire within its positive and negative forms, seeking to explode some myths and clarify some misunderstandings. The book is also designed to inspire the passion of the readers to seek a fulfilling life without needing to demonise ones experience of desire.
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX (1955-2012) was born in Nangchen in Kham, eastern Tibet. He was recognised by His Holiness XVI Gyalwang Karmapa as the ninth Traleg tulku and enthroned at the age of two as the supreme abbot of Thrangu Monastery. Rinpoche was taken to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim at the age of four where he was educated with other young tulkus in exile by His Holiness Karmapa. Rinpoche studied under the auspices of His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche at Sangngak Choling in Darjeeling. Rinpoche moved to Melbourne Australia in 1980 and commenced studies in comparative religion and philosophy at LaTrobe University. He established E-Vam Institute in Melbourne in 1982 and went on to establish further Centers in Australia, America and New Zealand. Throughout his life Rinpoche gave extensive teachings on many aspects of Buddhist psychology and philosophy, as well as comparative religion, and Buddhist and Western thought. He was an active writer and has many titles to his name. Titles include: the best selling Essence of Buddhism; Karma, What It Is, What It Isn't, and Why It Matters, now translated into 5 languages; Actuality of Being; Moonbeams of Mahamudra; Vajrayana: An Essential Guide to Practice and How To Do Life to name a few. Rinpoche's writings are thought provoking, challenging, profound and highly relevant to today's world and its many challenges.
Fundamentally this book Desire: Why It Matters asks the reader to embrace being human. Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche explains the importance of desire, emotion, and intelligence as integral elements of an enriched spiritual journey. Through working on and reading this book, I was assured that within my efforts to lead a spiritual and ethical life, that it is OK to be human. -- Traleg Khandro
