Disputes Arise from Craving

Craving is a cause of seeking,

Seeking is a cause of gaining material possessions,

Gaining material possessions is a cause of evaluating,

Evaluating is a cause of desire,

Desire is a cause of clinging,

Clinging is a cause of possessiveness,

Possessiveness is a cause of stinginess,

Stinginess is a cause of guarding of possessions:

And because of the guarding of possessions, many unwholesome, unskillful things come to be: there arise the taking up of stick and sword (weapons), fights, disputes, arguments, accusations, harsh speech, lying and other evil unskilled states.

(Reference: DN 15)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how craving leads to disputes and unwholesome unskillful conduct.

It is through the mind’s craving/desire/attachment that it has longing with a strong eagerness wanting “material gain” and results in the “guarding of possessions”. The mind will guard possessions with “weapons” where “fights, disputes, arguments, accusations, harsh speech, lying, and other evil unskilled states” will arise causing unwholesome outcomes.

There is a need for certain possessions to sustain our life and exist in the world. But, it is when the mind has longing with a strong eagerness (craving/desire/attachment) to keep these permanently, being unaware and uncomfortable with impermanence, that the mind then feels a need to hold on to “guarding possessions” tightly.

With holding on tightly, the mind cannot reside in the middle peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy but instead, is looking out with fear for when these possessions might leave. Rather, a mind that has the wisdom of impermanence will be able to make wise decisions to ensure the possessions they need to sustain life are available but with the understanding that they will leave them someday due to The Universal Truth of Impermanence.

Detailed explanation of The Universal Truth of Impermanence is available in this same book series found in Chapter 4 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).