<p>It's kinda simple. First we abandon desires. Only then we abandon the desire to give up desires. As per the traditional metaphor, you should not leave "the raft" until you are safely "on the other shore".</p>

<p>Sure, the desire to abandon desires also causes suffering. But that's the price we pay. It is like with the surgeon inflicting more pain short-term to end the pain long-term.</p>

<p>My point is, it is only a paradox in theory, once we get to real kitchen-level practice, to action -- there is no paradox.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-06T14:55:17.103Z
2015-09-06T15:05:18.327Z
2015-09-06T15:05:18.327Z
Andriy Volkov
<p>Regarding previous Question <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/10983/desire-without-attachment/10993#10993">Desire without attachment</a>.
If desire without the attachment still lead to suffering then how abandon desire without desire?<br>
As shown by <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn51/sn51.015.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Unnabha the Brahman</a> 
it's an endless path, and not one with an end, for it's impossible that one could abandon desire by means of desire."</p>

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2015-09-06T14:02:56.473Z
The sutta you referenced ends with Unnabha conceding to Ven. Ananda that it is, in fact, a path with an end.
Ryan
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2015-09-06T16:05:34.697Z
This question is also a duplicate of [Stopping Tanha or craving](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/8776/254)
ChrisW
<pali-canon><texts><teaching>
Is it possible to abandon desire by means of desire
# Is it possible to abandon desire by means of desire

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-06)

Regarding previous Question [Desire without attachment](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/10983/desire-without-attachment/10993#10993).
If desire without the attachment still lead to suffering then how abandon desire without desire?  
As shown by [Unnabha the Brahman](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn51/sn51.015.than.html)
it's an endless path, and not one with an end, for it's impossible that one could abandon desire by means of desire."

**Tags:** pali-canon, texts, teaching

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The sutta you referenced ends with Unnabha conceding to Ven. Ananda that it is, in fact, a path with an end.  
> **username_2**: This question is also a duplicate of [Stopping Tanha or craving](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/8776/254)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-09-06. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

It's kinda simple. First we abandon desires. Only then we abandon the desire to give up desires. As per the traditional metaphor, you should not leave "the raft" until you are safely "on the other shore".

Sure, the desire to abandon desires also causes suffering. But that's the price we pay. It is like with the surgeon inflicting more pain short-term to end the pain long-term.

My point is, it is only a paradox in theory, once we get to real kitchen-level practice, to action -- there is no paradox.


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