Giving up cravings

[Tad]

This question is inspired by discussion in OOB section. I know we have talked about cravings in many other threads in the past. But I think as years go by with deeper experience we can better refine our old understanding.

So how much cravings do we need to give up to guarantee freedom from the material world?

What about little delights such as some sort of wordly hobby, enjoying study of certain periods of human history, or little things like enjoying a cup of tea / coffee with a pastry?

[Jhanananda]

This question is inspired by discussion in OOB section. I know we have talked about cravings in many other threads in the past. But I think as years go by with deeper experience we can better refine our old understanding.

So how much cravings do we need to give up to guarantee freedom from the material world?

What about little delights such as some sort of wordly hobby, enjoying study of certain periods of human history, or little things like enjoying a cup of tea / coffee with a pastry?

This is a good question. As long as we have any craving for the material world, then we will be drawn back after death. However, I have all along found my research interests "hobbies" that keep me interested in moving through the day, but they are also my means of working through the delusions that saturate civilization, which surely includes the study of history, philosophy, religion and health. So, I see it as a means to the end of leaving the material world behind. I still enjoy a daily cup of a hot drink, and when I cook I try to make the meal interesting to eat; however, as much as I would like to enjoy a pastry, nonetheless, my health cannot enjoy one due to diabetes, so we have to avoid ill-health. How we know if any of that constitutes craving is its dominance during our meditation. If we can still our mind when we meditate, then we are free of craving.

[Tad]

Thanks, Jhananda!

I was thinking that during the process following death as one gets into OOB, why would any self aware and intelligent being want to stick to the material world? Judging by some NDE stories, it seems that people sometimes choose to comeback to earth for family purposes or because they feel that is what the God wants. That is kind of understandable if one feels that they still have incomplete commitments. But I remember reading quite a few NDE stories where people went to heavenly realms and were like "this feels like home, no way I am going back to earth...". Of course, there are NDE stories where people go to hell as well, which is quite scary. I guess it is best to do the best we can in this lifetime to prevent karmic forces from pushing to some bad destination.

[Jhanananda]

Thanks, Jhananda!

I was thinking that during the process following death as one gets into OOB, why would any self aware and intelligent being want to stick to the material world? Judging by some NDE stories, it seems that people sometimes choose to comeback to earth for family purposes or because they feel that is what the God wants. That is kind of understandable if one feels that they still have incomplete commitments. But I remember reading quite a few NDE stories where people went to heavenly realms and were like "this feels like home, no way I am going back to earth...". Of course, there are NDE stories where people go to hell as well, which is quite scary. I guess it is best to do the best we can in this lifetime to prevent karmic forces from pushing to some bad destination.

We are propelled back to the material world do to our attachments to family, friends and things. On the other hand, I have had many NDEs after my COPD diagnosis. We also keep coming back to the body we were born into until it is dead, not necessarily due to attachment, but because we are bound to it throughout its life.