What is lust?

Runt said:

Hmm... but if there is no lust in the Middle East... then what of the belief that when a man dies and goes to Heaven there will be virgins there for him? Is that not lust? I think lust is everywhere about equally; in cultures where the body is revealed and lust is almost socially acceptable, and in cultures where the body is concealed and lust is hidden and not acceptable.

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It isn't that there isn't any lust, but rather the sum total of the "chemical" lust is reduced because it isn't constantly in your face. There are no half naked women (or men) walking down the street , on billboards, or magazines. Think about this, when you are watching TV and every 11 minutes there is a food commercial, do you think this prompts you to eat more often? Also I'd like to point out that the practice of covering women is a social custom passed down instead of a religious one. The quran does not regulate what women wear wear except stating that it shouldn't attract too much attention to her.

And about that virgins stuff, more specifically, the 72 virgins, the quran doesn't exactly say that. it says, "Verily, for the Muttaqun [righteous], there will be a success (paradise); gardens and grapeyards; and young full-breasted (mature) maidens of equal age; and a full cup (of wine)"

Sounds nice, huh? Booze and babes are promised to those who lead a holy life. Sounds like marketing to me. My Middle eastern Studies and Godmother Mohja Khaf raised the important question, "Well what do the Women get?" to a Mullah. He came back with the answer, "If the women are faithful then they get to be with their husbands."
Heh, this and other things were the reasons of my break with islam. I feel, much like the christian church, power-hungry men have exploited and changed a noble religion into a form of mind control.

Okay, I guess I can see your point, somewhat. However, I think deliberately depriving people of certain things fuels desire. Think, for example, of the stories so recently in the news about priests molesting children. I doubt that this is a case where lots of dirty old men are attracted to a religion where they will have to take vows of chastity. Instead, I suspect that perfectly normal males succumb to lust because the very ABSENSE of sexuality in their lives actually reminds them of what they have deprived themselves of, and in this way feeds sexual desire.

But I will agree, now, that sexuality that is flaunted is going to incite more lust than sexuality that is hidden... but I think BOTH can cause lust.

Hope said:

I think of lust as being any unhealthy, overly-obsessive desire for something.

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hope that sounds more like the defintion of addiction mainly because the "overly-obsessive" part.

I would say that lust is the wanton desire for something so much so that subsidiary desires are eclipsed. Wanton meaning excessively unrestrained as opposed to lewd.

I was reading a buddiest line taken from Itivuttaka which according to the link below is a collection of a 112 short ideas in a buddiest book originaly presented by a woman named Khujjuttara. Read the link it is very interesting.
(http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/iti/index.html)

the line I was reading says qoute, "Lust is a root of evil, hate is a root of evil, delusion is a root of evil. These are the three roots of evil". It is an interesting sentiment though I am not sure if I agree with it. In regards to our sexual being I can be subdivided into lustful thoughts and lustful actions. Actions are easier to navigate in the sense of morality inas far as how the sexual acts affect both (or in some cases all) people involved before during and after. Within in the arena of lust sometimes the long-term affects are not calucated or realized or if there are any at all, and as such realizing that lust started as a thought and ends as an action can be a way or pre assessing how our lusts can impact those affected by it wheather good or bad. This pre assesment or evaulation, which can be done by oneself and thus in confidence, can be the key to keeping lust as a neutral enitity as opposed to one that is dipped in good or evil or both.

I define lust as wanting that which you do not physically or emotionally need. And addiction as needing what you SHOULD NOT physically or emotionally need.

Lust is one of the basic driving forces of mankind. G-d gave us lust as one of our baser instincts both as a motivation and as a test. Lust can be a good thing because it is Lust that makes us want to have sexual relations with members of the opposite sex and that in turn leads to babies which is a mitzvah . If we didn't have a desire to get it on then there would be a lesser chance of procreation. Think about it, when you first met your future spouse probably a baser instinct ran through your mind (especially us guys). That is lust. Now it is a test because we must learn to control these desires so they don't rule over our lives and become the ONLY driving force in our world.
Everything in moderation.

My wife won't let me lust. Somehow I feel I'm missing out on something.

She says I'm a dirty old man, I tell her "good then I've achieved one of my life goals!"
But all jesting aside, I view lust as something natural, it is the response to a stimulus that drives us to continue the species. It's when we can not control it that it presents a problem to ourselves and others. I would categorize it with the natural survival instinct that grows into the monster of self importance, which leads us to discount the value of others in accordance with our own over-inflated sense of "rank" in the natural order.
Wow ! I just read this and I really sound full of myself don't I ! That damned over-inflated sense of self just snuck right up on me!
I guess at the heart of it all I'm just a dirty old man after all, but I'm ok with that.:jiggy:

Tenshihan said:

No I've been to the middle east and it is an almost a lust free zone except for the women in the freer parts who have absorbed western culture and started wearing tight clothing.

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Not too long ago I read an article (National Geographic) where they talk about how in the middle east where women are covered from head to toe, women's hands are lusted after. The women acknowledge this as well and some will go to great lengths to make their hands attractive when the "slip" into sight.

Engyo said:

The Buddhist definition would be that lust, when indulged, begets behavior which causes suffering. Whether this is sexual, or related to money, food, drugs, or what have you doesn't matter. The definition of whether or not the desire/behavior is healthy is determined by whether or not it causes (needless) suffering.

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This is my favorite so far, although Sunstone's definition was pretty good too. Lindwood (I think) asked who determines what is "too much" or "more than you need". I think most people, when they're honest with themselves know when they've had too much or are wanting too much.

For such a little four letter word, the definition of lust seems to be difficult to pin down - every one who has voiced an oppinion has added to the description, The carholics describe lust as 'The inordinate craving for, or indulgence of, the carnal pleasure which is experienced in the human organs of generation.' But even that seems to be lacking, for lust is not solely about sex.
I would reword the above to read 'The inordinate craving for, or indulgence of, carnal pleasure, an unhealthy pleasure also arising out of the craving for material possessions.'

I am not even sureI am fully satisfied with that either.

an unhealthy pleasure also arising out of the craving for material possessions.'



Would that not be Greed.?

Greed, Lust, etc, all lead to destruction of the Heart and Soul.


Angel

angel888 said:

an unhealthy pleasure also arising out of the craving for material possessions.'



Would that not be Greed.?

Greed, Lust, etc, all lead to destruction of the Heart and Soul.


Angel

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Well Angel, that's one up to you!; of course it is. Fruballing in the snow..........

The definition of lust in the dictionary is sexual desire.

Shall we muddle on


Angel

angel888 said:

The definition of lust in the dictionary is sexual desire.

Shall we muddle on


Angel

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Er......
5 entries found for lust.

1. Intense or unrestrained sexual craving.
2. 1. An overwhelming desire or craving: a lust for power.
   2. Intense eagerness or enthusiasm: a lust for life.
3. Obsolete. Pleasure; relish.

I'm not in a muddle. At least I don't think so.:jiggy:

Oooer that's a hard one. I think lust is a lot like greed, except that lust is wanting a thing for itself, and greed is wanting it just to have. Did that make sense or should I explain my thoughts further?

Greed and Lust are selfish desire, whats the difference since they both dominate the soul leading to destruction.

In desire is man born;
From desire he consumes objects of various tastes;
By desire is he led away bound,
Buffeted across the face.
Bound by evil qualities is he chastised-- James1:13-5

Angel

angel888 said:

Greed and Lust are selfish desire, whats the difference since they both dominate the soul leading to destruction.

In desire is man born;
From desire he consumes objects of various tastes;
By desire is he led away bound,
Buffeted across the face.
Bound by evil qualities is he chastised-- James1:13-5

Angel

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Pure semantics. I agree with you. I was just quoting the good ol' dictionary to explain my first post.

Lust is the desire for sexual proclivities to be met! As Jesus calls this a sin, it seems that He is being a bit unfair, I mean give me a break, who doesn't do it it some point. But Christ was being very reasonable, for us to submit to the passions would sort of reduce us to dogs! We have that small thing called rationality, and an indulgence in lustful desires has been proven historically to destroy lives and socities.

Lust is the desire for sexual proclivities to be met! As Jesus calls this a sin, it seems that He is being a bit unfair, I mean give me a break, who doesn't do it it some point. But Christ was being very reasonable, for us to submit to the passions would sort of reduce us to dogs! We have that small thing called rationality, and an indulgence in lustful desires has been proven historically to destroy lives and socities.

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To be human is to be able to overcome lust, if we have not the willpower to overcome our animalistic emotions, are we truly human?

I think it's very narrow to define lust as being merely sexual.

Halcyon, I think that being human is being able to analyze our lust. It's being able to say "Yeah, I lust for you - but you're married!" or "I lust for this piece of chocolate, but if I eat another piece, I'll be sick!"

I indulge in my lustful desires - at the right time and place. I don't bother to control them when I'm alone in the bedroom, for example! That doesn't make me an animal