Why do Buddhists avoid attachment?

The principle of non-attachment is the key to understanding and practicing Buddhism, but like so many concepts in this religious philosophy, it can confuse and even discourage newcomers.

Such a reaction is common among people, especially in the West, when they begin to explore Buddhism. If this philosophy is supposed to be about joy, they wonder, why does it take so long to say that life is full of suffering (dukkha), that non-attachment is a goal and that recognition of emptiness (shunyata) is a step towards enlightenment?

Buddhism is truly a philosophy of joy. One reason for the confusion among newcomers is the fact that Buddhist concepts originated in the Sanskrit language, the words of which are not always easily translated into English. Another is the fact that the personal framework of reference for Westerners is very, very different from that of Eastern cultures.

Key takeaway: principle of non-attachment in Buddhism
The four noble truths are the foundation of Buddhism. They were delivered by the Buddha as a path to nirvana, a permanent state of joy.
Although the Noble Truths claim that life is suffering and attachment is one of the causes of that suffering, these words are not accurate translations of the original Sanskrit terms.
The word dukkha would be better translated as "dissatisfaction" rather than suffering.
There is no exact translation of the word upadana, which is called an attachment. The concept stresses that the desire to attach to things is problematic, not that you have to give up everything that is loved.
Giving up the illusion and ignorance that feeds the need for attachment can help end suffering. This is accomplished through the Noble Eightfold Path.
To understand the concept of non-attachment, you will need to understand its place within the general structure of Buddhist philosophy and practice. The basic premises of Buddhism are known as the Four Noble Truths.

The basics of Buddhism
The first noble truth: life is "suffering"

The Buddha taught that life as we know it today is full of suffering, the English translation closest to the word dukkha. This word has many connotations, including "dissatisfaction", which is perhaps an even better translation of "suffering". To say that life is suffering in the Buddhist sense means to say that wherever we go, we are followed by a vague feeling that things are not entirely satisfactory, not entirely right. The recognition of this dissatisfaction is what Buddhists call the first noble truth.

It is possible to know the reason for this suffering or dissatisfaction, however, and it comes from three sources. First of all, we are dissatisfied because we don't really understand the true nature of things. This confusion (avidya) is most often translated as ignorance, and its main feature is that we are not aware of the interconnectedness of all things. For example, imagine that there is an "I" or an "I" that exists independently and separately from all other phenomena. This is perhaps the central misunderstanding identified by Buddhism, and is responsible for the next two reasons for suffering.

The second noble truth: here are the reasons for our suffering
Our reaction to this misunderstanding about our separation in the world leads to attachment / attachment or aversion / hatred. It is important to know that the Sanskrit word for the first concept, upadana, does not have an exact English translation; its literal meaning is "combustible", although it is often translated into the meaning of "attachment". Likewise, the Sanskrit word for aversion / hatred, devesha, also does not have an English literal translation. Together, these three problems - ignorance, attachment / attachment and aversion - are known as the Three Poisons and their recognition constitutes the Second Noble Truth.

The third noble truth: it is possible to end suffering
The Buddha also taught that it is possible not to suffer. This is fundamental to the joyful optimism of Buddhism: the recognition that a cessation of dukkha is possible. This is achieved by giving up the illusion and ignorance that feed the attachment / attachment and the aversion / hatred that make life so unsatisfactory. The cessation of that suffering has a name quite known to almost everyone: nirvana.

The fourth noble truth: here is the path to end suffering
Finally, the Buddha taught a series of practical rules and methods to move from a condition of ignorance / attachment / aversion (dukkha) to a permanent state of joy / satisfaction (nirvana). Among the methods is the famous Eight-Fold Path, a series of practical recommendations for living, designed to move practitioners along the path to nirvana.

The principle of non-attachment
Non-attachment, therefore, is indeed an antidote to the attachment / attachment problem described in the Second Noble Truth. If attachment / attachment is a condition for finding life unsatisfactory, it is logical that non-attachment is a condition conducive to the satisfaction of life, a condition of nirvana.

It is important to note, however, that the Buddhist advice is not to break away from people in life or experiences, but rather to simply recognize the non-attachment that is inherent in the beginning. This is a rather key difference between Buddhist and other religious philosophies. While other religions try to achieve a certain state of grace through hard work and active repudiation, Buddhism teaches that we are intrinsically joyful and that it is simply about giving up and abandoning our wrong habits and preconceptions so that we can experience the essentials. Buddahood which is within us all.

When we reject the illusion of having an "I" that exists separately and independently of other people and phenomena, we suddenly recognize that there is no need to detach ourselves, because we have always been interconnected with all things at all times.

Zen teacher John Daido Loori says that non-attachment should be understood as a unity with all things:

“[A] according to the Buddhist viewpoint, non-attachment is exactly the opposite of separation. To have attachment you need two things: the thing you are attaching to and the person who is attacking. In non-attachment on the other hand, there is unity. There is unity because there is nothing to attach to. If you have unified with the whole universe, there is nothing outside of you, so the notion of attachment becomes absurd. Who will stick to what? "
Living in non-attachment means that we recognize that there was never anything to attach or cling to in the first place. And for those who can truly recognize it, it is truly a state of joy.