We got introduced to Gowthama Budha, probably in 7th or 8th grade. We had a lesson about 'Budha' in our History book. It was told that Budha left his home to find truth. After doing penance and meditation for several years, he got enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. All that we knew about Budha's teachings was, Budha had said, "Desire is the root cause of misery". That's all.In that age, I thought that 'Desire' means 'Greed'. Thieves are greedy people. If they loot or plunder, police will catch them and give punishment. They will suffer. This is misery. So, we should not be greedy. This was my simple understanding about Budha's statement! :) After all, we children desired for nice food items, one more new pen, a new geometry box(we managed to finish school studies with only one geometry box!), a movie once in a while, good marks,of course... that's all. Life was so simple. I had no problem with 'Desires' or may be I was not conscious about it. I completely agreed with Budha.
A recent survey says that a child smiles 400 times a day, youth smiles only 18 times. Adults may or may not smile! We lose our smile as we grow old, isn't it? Still, I could not fully understand, how desires could be the reason for my misery. I thought that I am suffering because of some people or situation. If at all they change(as I desire!!??), then I will be happy.
One day, when this topic came, one of our friend told ridiculously, "Budha's statement is illogical! How can we live with out desires? Is it not death? We are born out of desires only. So, we should analyse our desires and decide whether to keep it or discard it, how can Budha say just like that, "desire is the root cause of misery" as if we should drop all the desires completely". Though I wanted to argue with him, I kept quite, because I did not know the right answer then. How could Budha be wrong? In Physics, if Albert Einstein tells some scientific theory, don't we believe his words? Later on, we may start our enquiry about how and why. First, we accept that he knows something better than us. Even Science requires little faith to move ahead. We should have faith in Spiritual masters in the first place. Yes, they know something more than us, let me listen to it, and then we can ask, OK, now prove me how it is. Without knowing anything, criticising the spiritual masters shows that we are, probably not completely ignorant, but half baked.
Knowledge can be gained by following 4 steps according to our ancient system. Shravana means, reading and listening. Manana, reflecting on it, Nithidhyasa, contemplation , Dhyana, meditating upon it. I trusted Budha's words and kept dwelling on it time to time.
Desire simply means, I want something, which I don't have now. Once I have that, then I will be happy. It means, till I get that, I am going to be unhappy, isn't it? Desire is always about tomorrow, not now. Suppose, if we are joyful now, will there be any desire? Desire promises happiness in future, but destroys joy NOW. You might have noticed it with some children. They were playing happily, suddenly, they would demand 'Pizza' or 'Chocolate ice cream'!!! That's all. If they can't get their way, they will cry, do tantrums. They will not relax unless they get what they wanted. Desire is the feverishness of the mind.
If the desires are partially fulfilled, then we desire more and grow greedy. If it is fulfilled, the happiness does not stay for long. Once possessed, the mind will drop the desire very easily and something else will seem to be more desirable ( something more difficult to achieve!) .Unfulfilled desires cause frustration and anger, it overshadows the intellect and the person even commits sin to fulfill his desire. When a desire arises, first, it takes away the joy in the present. If it is fulfilled, there is a fear of loosing it. Once lost, the memory of it will be even more painful. Desire is not joyful either in the present or in the past or future. Is it not our own experience?
If I am satisfied with what I have and desire nothing, how will I progress in life?
Anything is hurting, if it is so small. A tiny speck of dust can enter into our eyes and harm us, but a rock can't. Let me desire for something big. Let me desire for the whole world. The whole world is mine. All flowers, animals, people are mine. The earth and sky are also mine. Why desire happiness only for me? Let me seek happiness for everyone. Why desire for some petty things, which are anyway going to perish in time? Desire for the highest! Desire to possess Divine Himself! Why not?
We desire, because we have a lack feeling in us. We want more things to fill the emptiness in us. This is ignorance. We think as if we are so small and the desires are too big. No. We are bigger than our desires, because we only created them. Creator is bigger than the creation, isn't it?
In Patanjali Yoga sutras, Patanjali prescribes some Niyamas (laws or rules) to be adopted to achieve perfection in life. Santhosha or contentment is one among the five Niyamas. Usually, we consider santhosha will come at the end as a result of any achievement, but, Patanjali wants us to be content to start with. It's a basic requirement for any achievement. Santhosha is not the final destination. Santhosha is to be at peace within and finding contentment even while experiencing life's difficulties for life is nothing but a process of growth through all kinds of circumstances. Accepting that there is a purpose for everything and accept what happens. It means being happy with what we have rather than being unhappy about what we don't have.
Here is a formula for happiness.
H = 1/d H = happiness, d = desires.
More the desires, more agitations in the mind. Happiness is experienced only when the mind is calm and peaceful. One become more creative, effective and efficient when the mind is quiet. No doubt, he will make progress in life.
Yes, I want to get rid of my desires. What do I do? Is it possible to 'delete' all my desires?
Desires may arise in our heart, let them arise. Let them not be too heavy like a stone...Let them be soft like snow flakes. Let me surrender them all to the Divine, and will pray, "Dear Lord, I have offered all my desires to your feet, You fulfil this desire of mine or give me whatever you consider better than this. I will accept anything you give." If it is conducive to my growth, they will be fulfilled in the right time, or they will drop off. I am fine with both.
Now....let us sit comfortably...and easily....
Take a deep breath in.... and as you breath out, let go.... and.... just.. RELAX....
With a smile on our face, Let us LOVE and SERVE. :)
A recent survey says that a child smiles 400 times a day, youth smiles only 18 times. Adults may or may not smile! We lose our smile as we grow old, isn't it? Still, I could not fully understand, how desires could be the reason for my misery. I thought that I am suffering because of some people or situation. If at all they change(as I desire!!??), then I will be happy.
One day, when this topic came, one of our friend told ridiculously, "Budha's statement is illogical! How can we live with out desires? Is it not death? We are born out of desires only. So, we should analyse our desires and decide whether to keep it or discard it, how can Budha say just like that, "desire is the root cause of misery" as if we should drop all the desires completely". Though I wanted to argue with him, I kept quite, because I did not know the right answer then. How could Budha be wrong? In Physics, if Albert Einstein tells some scientific theory, don't we believe his words? Later on, we may start our enquiry about how and why. First, we accept that he knows something better than us. Even Science requires little faith to move ahead. We should have faith in Spiritual masters in the first place. Yes, they know something more than us, let me listen to it, and then we can ask, OK, now prove me how it is. Without knowing anything, criticising the spiritual masters shows that we are, probably not completely ignorant, but half baked.
Knowledge can be gained by following 4 steps according to our ancient system. Shravana means, reading and listening. Manana, reflecting on it, Nithidhyasa, contemplation , Dhyana, meditating upon it. I trusted Budha's words and kept dwelling on it time to time.
Desire simply means, I want something, which I don't have now. Once I have that, then I will be happy. It means, till I get that, I am going to be unhappy, isn't it? Desire is always about tomorrow, not now. Suppose, if we are joyful now, will there be any desire? Desire promises happiness in future, but destroys joy NOW. You might have noticed it with some children. They were playing happily, suddenly, they would demand 'Pizza' or 'Chocolate ice cream'!!! That's all. If they can't get their way, they will cry, do tantrums. They will not relax unless they get what they wanted. Desire is the feverishness of the mind.
If the desires are partially fulfilled, then we desire more and grow greedy. If it is fulfilled, the happiness does not stay for long. Once possessed, the mind will drop the desire very easily and something else will seem to be more desirable ( something more difficult to achieve!) .Unfulfilled desires cause frustration and anger, it overshadows the intellect and the person even commits sin to fulfill his desire. When a desire arises, first, it takes away the joy in the present. If it is fulfilled, there is a fear of loosing it. Once lost, the memory of it will be even more painful. Desire is not joyful either in the present or in the past or future. Is it not our own experience?
If I am satisfied with what I have and desire nothing, how will I progress in life?
Anything is hurting, if it is so small. A tiny speck of dust can enter into our eyes and harm us, but a rock can't. Let me desire for something big. Let me desire for the whole world. The whole world is mine. All flowers, animals, people are mine. The earth and sky are also mine. Why desire happiness only for me? Let me seek happiness for everyone. Why desire for some petty things, which are anyway going to perish in time? Desire for the highest! Desire to possess Divine Himself! Why not?
We desire, because we have a lack feeling in us. We want more things to fill the emptiness in us. This is ignorance. We think as if we are so small and the desires are too big. No. We are bigger than our desires, because we only created them. Creator is bigger than the creation, isn't it?
In Patanjali Yoga sutras, Patanjali prescribes some Niyamas (laws or rules) to be adopted to achieve perfection in life. Santhosha or contentment is one among the five Niyamas. Usually, we consider santhosha will come at the end as a result of any achievement, but, Patanjali wants us to be content to start with. It's a basic requirement for any achievement. Santhosha is not the final destination. Santhosha is to be at peace within and finding contentment even while experiencing life's difficulties for life is nothing but a process of growth through all kinds of circumstances. Accepting that there is a purpose for everything and accept what happens. It means being happy with what we have rather than being unhappy about what we don't have.
Here is a formula for happiness.
H = 1/d H = happiness, d = desires.
More the desires, more agitations in the mind. Happiness is experienced only when the mind is calm and peaceful. One become more creative, effective and efficient when the mind is quiet. No doubt, he will make progress in life.
Yes, I want to get rid of my desires. What do I do? Is it possible to 'delete' all my desires?
Desires may arise in our heart, let them arise. Let them not be too heavy like a stone...Let them be soft like snow flakes. Let me surrender them all to the Divine, and will pray, "Dear Lord, I have offered all my desires to your feet, You fulfil this desire of mine or give me whatever you consider better than this. I will accept anything you give." If it is conducive to my growth, they will be fulfilled in the right time, or they will drop off. I am fine with both.
Now....let us sit comfortably...and easily....
Take a deep breath in.... and as you breath out, let go.... and.... just.. RELAX....
With a smile on our face, Let us LOVE and SERVE. :)
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