<p>I've been practicing Vipassana and reading "The Art of Living" by S.N Goenka.</p>

<p>My questions is, I have obligations. When I wake up in the morning I have a thought to go to the bathroom and brush my teeth. Then I follow with that thought and perform the actions. How is this different from me craving that action? If I simply observe the thought of brushing my teeth, and mentally note "thoughts", it will help the thought fade but now I do not accomplish anything in my life. How do I know what thoughts must be left to "fade" and what thoughts I must act on? If I'm acting on a thought, isn't that due to aversion/craving? </p>

<p>Where do you draw the line? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-15T17:39:24.947Z
Seems like essentially the same question as [this one](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/31408/dukha-vs-legitimate-need)?
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-15T17:43:10.940Z
That's right. It's a good question but it was asked and answered before
Murathan1
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-15T18:00:12.030Z
Closing as dupe - if you read the answers and still have a (new, different) question, you can edit this one and I will reopen.
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-15T18:16:45.267Z
This might be different if it were asking for, specifically Goenka's doctrine (about meditation). Or if answers should focus on "craving versus wholesome desire" instead of "attachment versus legitimate need".
ChrisW
<meditation><vipassana>
Is the act of moving, eating, doing, and living craving itself?
# Is the act of moving, eating, doing, and living craving itself?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-15)

I've been practicing Vipassana and reading "The Art of Living" by S.N Goenka.

My questions is, I have obligations. When I wake up in the morning I have a thought to go to the bathroom and brush my teeth. Then I follow with that thought and perform the actions. How is this different from me craving that action? If I simply observe the thought of brushing my teeth, and mentally note "thoughts", it will help the thought fade but now I do not accomplish anything in my life. How do I know what thoughts must be left to "fade" and what thoughts I must act on? If I'm acting on a thought, isn't that due to aversion/craving?

Where do you draw the line?

**Tags:** meditation, vipassana

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Seems like essentially the same question as [this one](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/31408/dukha-vs-legitimate-need)?  
> **username_2**: That's right. It's a good question but it was asked and answered before  
> **username_1**: Closing as dupe - if you read the answers and still have a (new, different) question, you can edit this one and I will reopen.  
> **username_3**: This might be different if it were asking for, specifically Goenka's doctrine (about meditation). Or if answers should focus on "craving versus wholesome desire" instead of "attachment versus legitimate need".  

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