The Seven Emotions
Humans possess two aspects: the physical body and the spirit. Each operates differently.
The actions of the physical body include breathing, digestion, and movement. The actions of the spirit are: joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, and desire, known as the Seven Emotions.
The Seven Emotions arise from the mind. When the mind is tranquil, these emotions remain dormant as potential tendencies. However, when the mind is disturbed by external stimuli, it generates emotions.
For example, imagine the mind as a pond. Our inherent nature is like still water. Emotions are like waves stirred up by the wind. This wind represents external stimuli affecting the mind. The Seven Emotions are sensations arising from within, triggered by external factors. Sensations focused on physical pleasure are base and driven by worldly desires, while those arising from deeper contemplation are noble and aligned with Heavenly principles. Both the human mind and the spiritual mind are influenced by these two forces: following worldly desires leads to the human mind, while following Heavenly principles leads to the spiritual mind. These two forces often clash within us.
Who does not desire noble spiritual experiences? However, many are hindered by worldly desires, leading them astray from Heavenly principles and causing suffering and misfortune.
Our mind is like a house, with the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue as its doors, and external stimuli as dust and wind. When these doors are open, dust and wind enter, polluting the house. To maintain inner purity, we must close these doors, preventing external influences from disturbing us. This means training ourselves to resist the allure of beauty, the seduction of sweet sounds, the temptation of fragrant scents, and the craving for delicious tastes.
While achieving this is challenging, we should not be discouraged. By practicing gradually, day by day, we can eventually control the Seven Emotions and prevent them from arising. This is what distinguishes the mind of a cultivator from that of an ordinary person.
The Six Desires
The Six Desires are the six cravings that afflict humans. They are: the desire for fame, wealth, beauty, power, pleasure, and longevity (*1).
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Fame: Fame cannot be obtained through mere desire or pursuit. True fame naturally arises for those deserving of it. If one obsessively seeks it through bribery or contrived actions, it becomes empty and meaningless.
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Wealth: Many relentlessly chase wealth, believing it to be the source of happiness, unaware that they become slaves to it. The insatiable desire for wealth can cloud one’s judgment and lead to the neglect of morality and virtue.
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Beauty: Beauty is a natural creation of the Supreme Being, possessing undeniable allure. However, this beauty can be deceptive and dangerous, like a sharp knife. While a knife can be useful, it can also easily cause harm. Sages have often compared beauty to a powerful wave (the wave of desire) that has drowned countless individuals in the sea of attachment.
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Power: Power is often used to dominate and control others, violating their freedom. On a larger scale, it can be used by societies or nations to oppress those weaker than themselves. The pursuit of power often contradicts Heavenly principles, hence the saying, “Force cannot overcome Heaven, power cannot surpass reason.”
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Pleasure: Most people constantly seek pleasure, endlessly searching for it without ever truly finding it. This is like a thirsty traveler lost in a desert, chasing a mirage that recedes with every step. In this transient world of suffering, what true and lasting pleasure can be found? While wealth and status might seem pleasurable, those who possess them often experience greater anxieties and burdens than ordinary people. The Supreme Being has taught, “True wealth and honor are not found in this world.”
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Longevity: Gautama Buddha described this world as a sea of suffering (*2). Why then should we crave a long life filled with pain and sorrow? Our purpose in this life is to fulfill our duties and responsibilities as human beings. A long life dedicated to serving others holds meaning and value. However, those who desire longevity solely to indulge in wealth and pleasure are like prisoners trapped in a lifelong sentence of hardship (*3).
Due to ignorance of the Way, people become entangled in the Six Desires, leading to a life of toil and suffering, trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. The Six Desires are the root of all suffering (*4).
(*1) Some list the Six Desires as: fame, wealth, beauty, sensual pleasures, vain hopes, and jealousy. (*2-*3-*4) Refer to the following section discussing the “Sea of Suffering.”
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