Why does the Buddha say you should stop wanting and enjoying things?

Answer 1

The Buddha says is that when our desires, our craving, our constant discontent with what we have, and our continual longing for more and more does cause us suffering, then we should stop doing it. He asks us to make a difference between what we need and what we want and to strive for our needs and modify our wants. He tells us that our needs can be fulfilled but that our wants are endless - a bottomless pit. There are needs that are essential, fundamental and that can be obtained and this we should work towards. Desires beyond this should be gradually lessened. After all, what is the purpose of life? To get or to be content and happy.

Answer 2

Buddha says different things for Bhikkus and layman both.Since we are not lay people, He says that you find a right balance between two extremes. Do not enjoy to the extent that you are driven by desires or wanting which will bring suffering. Do not push yourself too hard that you hurt your self? By following that you will be free from suffering which come from unwanted enjoyment or wanting.

Answer 3

What he means by this is that the urge of material things is what leads to cravings, and over indulgence in certain earthly activities. Man should know that the earth life is a passing phase that someday he will pass on. But if He could not disassociation himself from the cravings during his earthly life then it becomes difficult for him to pass on after death.

Answer 4

Buddha does not instruct anyone to "stop wanting or enjoying thins". He does state that lust (the desire for things beyond physical need) is not a skillful approach to life. Lust sees you being satisfied with nothing less than a large chocolate cake when you are hungry, not just a bagel or bottled imported pure spring water , not just tap water, when you are thirsty . Wanting a drink when thirsty or food when hungry is a natural part of life.Enjoying things the result of a life patterned on the Eightfold Path. Parents enjoy their children, the gardener enjoys his garden and the potter enjoys the shaping of a vase from clay. Agin we run into the "lust limit". A person who pursues pleasure (cloths, sex, praise, attention and so on) to unreasonable levels or at levels which cause irritation or pain to others has drifted into lust. The goal of the middle way is to balance between lust and deprivation. You can want want you need and enjoy without lust.