“Now this, bhikkhus, is the noble truth of the origin of suffering: it is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there; that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination.”

From this verse, we know that craving is a form of seeking. In other words, our minds chase after various things that provide delight. Each of us has different delights; preferences can be cultivated and refined. Some delights develop in this life, while others may be ingrained habits from past lives. This means our delights are neither accidental nor divinely ordained at birth. Instead, they are cultivated by our habitual tendencies, and habits are formed by repeated actions, speech, and thoughts over long periods.

The opposite of delight is disgust; it’s the other side of the same coin. While we chase after delight, we also run from disgust. The aversion to things that disgust us can be so strong that some people resort to violence. Likewise, craving for delight can also lead people to do horrible things to themselves or others.

Our function as beings locked in Samsara is defined by a constant craving for delight and an aversion to disgust. In other words, we take delight in experiencing.

Fundamentally, most of our delights and disgusts are based on sensory experiences—the Kamaloka (Realm of Form) level. Our craving for existence leads to rebirth after death, and our preferences for sensory experiences trap us in the realm of form (Kamaloka). This is why serious spiritual practitioners aim to transcend the craving for sensory pleasures and cultivate a habit of detachment.

To create this habit, they observe strict precepts: celibacy vows, abstinence from beautiful garments, entertainment, singing, dancing, perfume, indulgent eating, and many more. It’s all about creating the right habit (Karma) that frees them from the habitual delight in sensory experiences.(Kamaloka)

On the other hand, ordinary people like ourselves chase after sensory delights, and the idea of abstinence is terrifying. For us, the Buddha taught us to create karma or habits that save us from the lower realms of Kamaloka.

For example, we should not cultivate a habit of stealing. If our minds are habitually inclined toward stealing, we may be reborn into a situation where stealing becomes a necessity for survival—a life of extreme poverty, deprived of basic necessities. Contemplating this reveals the significance of the Five Precepts. Similarly, if we enjoy being drunk or intoxicated, our minds will gravitate toward a state of constant intoxication in our next life. Rebirth isn’t about divine judgment or punishment; it’s simply our minds latching onto an existence that reflects our habitual patterns of being.

This truth is both liberating and terrifying: liberating for those with some mastery of their minds, terrifying for those who struggle with seemingly simple things like stopping themselves from cursing.

We are the creator of our next birth….

May all be well and happy