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Q-20: I've got a question, Bhante. A friend of mine asked me a question: ''A buddhist mustn't have desire. But how can he/she achieve nibbana without a desire to achieve it?'' I didn't know how to answer him at that time. Could you tell me how to reply him? My friend's a christian.

Thank you.

Johan Tanijar

A-20: Yes,  as Buddhists, we should  refrain from desire as much as possible when liberation (nibbana) is concerned.  Our wish for the achievement of  nibbana  should be interpreted from the perspective of "will". According to Buddhist philosophy (abhidhamma), desire (lobha) and will (chanda) are two different mental states. In this regard, the former is always evil (akusala) or unwholesome and the latter is sometimes evil (akusala) and sometimes wholesome (kusala). For us, it is wholesome to wish for the achievement of nibbana - this should be the main objective of being a good Buddhist. We strive for the achievement of nibbana and we practise to achieve it. Thus we can attain nibbana.

With Metta,

Ashin Acara

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Dhamma Questions are answered by Bhante U Cittara, resident monk of Mangala Vihara, and his assistant monks. Questions and comments on given answers are welcome. Send your questions and comments to resident_monk@mangalavihara.org.sg.