How to Eradicate Craving and Defilements

Cultivation is for the purpose of eradicating craving. Craving arises at the point where the six sense faculties contact the six sense objects; thus, it must be halted right there at that point of contact. When the eye faculty contacts a form object, if craving does not arise in the mind, craving is halted. When the ear faculty contacts a sound object, if craving does not arise in the mind, craving is halted. When the nose faculty contacts an odor object, if craving does not arise in the mind, craving is halted. When the tongue faculty contacts a taste object, if craving does not arise in the mind, craving is halted. When the body faculty contacts a tangible object, if craving does not arise in the mind, craving is halted. When the mind faculty contacts a mental object, if craving does not arise in the mind, craving is halted. According to the habitual tendency of craving within the mind, craving for forms, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, and mental objects should normally arise. However, due to the strength of cultivation, the arising of craving is prevented, and craving is halted. This is the achievement of cultivation. The absence of craving is the virtue of cultivation, and thus cultivation gives birth to merit. Virtue refers to moral character, virtuous conduct, and the wholesome manifestation of the mind. With wholesomeness, one moves towards liberation; with wholesomeness, one draws near to freedom. The defilements of greed, hatred, and delusion are bondage; they are non-liberation, non-freedom.

Merit does not arise easily, because the defilements of greed, hatred, and delusion accumulated over beginningless eons are deeply rooted, and the habitual tendencies are profound. They are not easy to subdue and uproot. It requires prolonged contemplation over many eons, contemplating the suffering inherent in craving, and gradually subduing craving bit by bit. If one does not recognize the suffering of craving, one cannot subdue it. Because sentient beings all delight in pleasure and seek after pleasure, avoiding suffering. Only when suffering is directly observed will they choose to avoid it and eliminate its affliction. Therefore, the first step in cultivation is to observe suffering, recognize suffering, and perceive suffering. Only then can the mind withdraw from the point of contact with the six sense objects, not delving deeply into them, and thus not giving rise to the suffering of craving. Without the first step of observing suffering and knowing suffering, there can be no second step of eradicating the accumulation [of craving], nor a third step of aspiring for cessation, and consequently no fourth step of cultivating the path. Thus, for an individual, generating the mind for the path is extremely difficult, due to the force of habitual craving.

Observing all sentient beings, none fail to crave the pleasurable contact of the six sense objects, unwilling to relinquish their contact with and experience of them. In reality, craving is entirely suffering; there is no pleasurable experience. Yet, as a result, sentient beings all dwell within the suffering of craving without realizing it. Countless individuals who study Buddhism still aim to enjoy worldly life, pursuing pleasurable experiences. Yet the outcome is invariably suffering. It is only due to the lack of wisdom over beginningless eons that they fail to recognize this truth, blindly pursuing pleasure yet never truly experiencing it. This is delusion. The defilement of delusion is the hardest to shake off. Despite the Buddha's earnest and repeated exhortations, sentient beings remain steeped in delusion and ignorance. Is spiritual practice easy? It is extremely difficult. Therefore, it is said that initially severing the view of self is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. One should recognize this point, be realistic, and avoid arrogance.