Attachment to Dharma

One curious phenomenon in the Buddhist world is that many Buddhists seem to have extreme attachment to scripture. This is so despite the fact that Buddha himself referred to his own teachings as a raft and remarked that no one would carry the raft around after crossing over.

Buddhism is unique compared to the other world religions in many ways. One of its unique features is its teaching against attachment to doctrines. The Pali word for attachment is tanha, meaning “thirst” and “craving.” Walpola Rahula, in his book, What the Buddha Taught, informs us that there are many types of attachment. It is not restricted only to sensual pleasure. There is a clear Buddhist understanding that all forms of attachment lead to suffering, regardless of what kind.

Here the term ‘thirst’ includes not only desire for, and attachment to, sense-pleasures, wealth and power, but also desire for, and attachment to, idea and ideals, views, opinions, theories, conceptions and beliefs (dhamma-taṇhā).[76] According to the Buddha’s analysis, all the troubles and strife in the world, from little personal quarrels in families to great wars between nations and countries, arise out of this selfish ‘thirst’. … As the Buddha told Raṭṭapāla: ‘The world lacks and hankers, and is enslaved to “thirst” (taṇhādāso).’

True, Buddhists are not one of the “peoples of the Book.” But still there is a…