Wednesday 30 December 2009

Background

Buddhism teaches that desire and ignorance lead to suffering. Acraving for possessions, pleasure and immortality alongside theinability to see the world as it really is causes us to suffer. InJohn's first letter, we are told that craving the world is not thesame as the love from God.

"Do not love the world and the things in the world," John writes inverse 15 and then continues, "The love of the father is not inthose who crave the world; for all that is in the world - thedesire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in theriches - comes not from the Father but from the world."

Transcending human desires for a lifetime would be impossible forthe majority of us. We are human after all, and we have humanneeds. American author Henry James wrote that sight - the desire ofthe eyes - was the most exquisite form of pursuit. Even in ourdreams, when our eyes are closed, we desire to see.

John's letter reminds his readers that even when they are in thedarkness, when they have pursued a desire that has led to a darkcorner, there is still light. It is through love that we can livein the light. We cannot say that we are in the light if we hate abrother or a sister. In 1 John 2:11, John writes, "But whoeverhates another believer is in the darkness, and does not know theway to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness."

John's letter is addressed to all people - little children, fathersand young people - and he writes to tell them the message of hisown spiritual enlightenment and morality.

To Ponder

Have you ever written a letter to communicate aspiritual message? What benefits can letters bring?

Do you find that desire always leads tosuffering? What exprience have you had of this?