Recently, I read the Bhagavad Gita and Dhammapada. While I thought that the teachings were wonderful, there was one particular thing I could not quite understand. Both the books exhort us to “free ourselves from desire” and taught that “desire is the root cause of all suffering”.

(I guess this is not the same concept as that of “effortless effort” that the Tao Te Ching teaches) . A blanket statement that “desire is not good” seemed strange. For example, one of my role models is Roger Federer. I marvel at his desire to keep improving and come back slam after slam and emerge victorious. I`ve always thought that desire is a very positive emotion and the first step to any achievement. I guess that I’ve misinterpreted or misunderstood this teaching of Buddha/Gita. I would be really thankful if you could clarify my doubt. It would be a big step forward in my spiritual path.

I am a big believer of healthy, non-violent communication and really try to be conscious of how I present what  I want to say so that I honor both myself and the other person. There are some times however when I’m facing a conflict situation, feel angry and then struggle with whether or not I should express it because I’m afraid of saying hurtful things.

I often times try to wait until I have a better grasp on my emotions but then have a tendency to just clam up and let things go. Where is the fine line between telling someone that you’re upset and when you can’t think of anything nice to say, as the saying goes, don’t say anything at all.

My son attends primary school where they learn about Christian values. We are open and take our young children to Buddhist temples, Catholic churches and expose them to as many religions as we can when the opportunity arises. I don’t worry about the school being based on Christian values as we openly discuss spirituality at home (although the children are still young). My question is this: My daughter is confused about her teacher telling her not to worry about bad things happening as God will protect her and “smite” the “baddies”.

We live in an area plagued by violent crime and are very security conscious. There have been a number of tragic incidents in our immediate family and I have had to explain events to my children (as it was inescapable). I have taught them that their safety is their responsibility so they have to ensure they don’t run away from me in supermarkets for example. Now my daughter thinks if she prays to God then He will protect her no matter whether she is  alone or with me. I don’t want to scare her, but I don’t want to lull her into a false sense of security either. Crime is real, we don’t focus on it, but sometimes bad things do happen to good people. A family member who was shot during a home invasion, his family tortured, all survived, but she thinks these “victims” must have been “sinners”. I don’t believe in sin, only karma. How do I broach this subject with children under age 7? I want them to love God, pray and feel safe, but not from the literal point of view that nothing bad will EVER happen because God will strike anyone down. What about car accidents? What if I am killed in a hi-jacking? Then my child will turn away from God, feeling let down and lied to. All I have done thus far is explain that there is no death in God’s view so He doesn’t feel the need to protect us from it. Your thoughts?

I feel stuck and have been feeling that way for about 3 years now.  I came from an abusive background and I spent almost all my time dealing with and healing from the situation.  I am a 26 year old female and am only now deciding what I want to do with my life.  I see so many of my friends younger than me achieving so much and I am glad for them but I want some of that happiness myself.  I know their success is due to the most powerful law being LOVE.  The problem is I don’t have that loving support in my life that one needs to succeed.  How do I succeed in my pursuit of a career when I have no love in my life?  The only person I feel I can rely on is me.

I understand and know that pure consciousness is not dual but One, and that you have to go beyond opposite values to experience oneness. All our emotions have opposites too, so does that mean we must get beyond all  emotions? – and if we go beyond our emotions, doesn’t that just make us indifferent? Does becoming enlightened mean becoming indifferent?

I also know that unconditional love is an expression of pure consciousness, because unconditional love is not an emotion, therefore has no opposite – it’s a way of being, allowing everything and everyone to be what they are – but what about bliss, pure consciousness is suppose to be bliss, but bliss is and emotion that has an opposite value doesn’t it ? My final question is, is there a wrong reason to want to become enlightened? I for one want to try become as enlightened as possible, so I Never have to come back here.

I suppose these are almost childish questions, but anyway many thanks and much Love.