In Buddhism, desire and ignorance lie at the root of suffering. By desire, Buddhists refer to craving pleasure, material goods, and immortality, all of which are wants that can never be satisfied. As a result, desiring them can only bring suffering.

https://www.pbs.org/edens/thailand/buddhism.htm

  • InputZero@lemmy.ml
    0·
    3 months ago

    As someone else explained, ‘desire’ in Buddhism is a bit more complicated than ignorant things. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said,

    Additionally I’d say the comic really over simplifies it because it’s trying to be clever but basically it’s saying the happiness is right in front of you and your ignorant desires are blocking you from reaching it. Meanwhile the path to enlightenment and even not desiring ignorant things is a long path.

    In trying to be clever the message got muffled. My understanding is that Buddhism is about letting go of unhappiness over things that you can’t control.

    • Krauerking@lemy.lol
      0·
      3 months ago

      It’s acceptance that there is 3 truths to your existence.

      You were born.
      You will suffer.
      You will die.

      You must find the right path through actions, effort, mental fortitude, and other aspects (even the words you speak) to find it in yourself to move past the suffering that is inherent to life, to live and put back less suffering into the world.
      But we absolutely have the ability to control and shape our reality to do so, even though it does not come with the ability to end suffering.