As humans we
struggle in the whirlpool of desires from birth to death. If we are deriving
pleasures from these desires, then why do we suffer most of the time?
Is it wrong to have desires?
Fulfilling
desires - good or bad?
On the other hand suppressing desires, is it the right
thing to do.
Why do we
need to even think about these issues?
Why can’t we
just enjoy everything that comes in our
way like lots of people?
One of the
major problems in our lives is that we just want to fulfill our desires and we
do not want any bad consequences. We need to have some kind of insight so that
we can assess whether we deserve a particular object in our life. People would
like to have anything and everything if possible. Even if we desire something,
do we put enough human effort in to it so that we can acquire it?
When we are
unable to perform to the standards that are required!
When we do
not get what we want!
We get disappointed and our mind takes it the
hard way.
Our
scriptures tell us to control our desires and take control of our emotions when
they are not fulfilled. But this is a difficult task for most of us.
Sai Baba used
to say “All my devotees come to me first with worldly desires but I bring them
to the correct path by fulfilling some of their desires according to past
karmas. If they run towards the sensual objects they will fall of the wagon”.
We have to
come out of the clutches of this vicious cycle and not fall for these worldly
objects. We have to learn to accept what Baba wanted to give us. He wanted us
to thrive for knowledge (Jnana) rather than running after worldly desires. We
need to show faith towards God and walk the path that Baba showed so that we
can be free from these whirlpools of likes and dislikes.
Understanding the desires &
controlling them:
Passion towards objects or outward
things:
The more we
think about objects around us, the more we become interested in them and our
passion increases. Then we want to acquire that particular object. This fact
was emphasized in Bhagavadgita in the 2nd chapter.
Desire leads to action:
When we start
thinking about an object, we will develop an innate need to acquire that
object. Then we imagine the happiness we can derive by having that particular
object. This leads to some kind of action where we are willing to do anything
to fulfill our wish.
Unfulfilled desires lead to anger:
When we
cannot fulfill our wish, we tend to look for reasons. We want to understand who
is in between you and this object or what factors preventing you to acquire
that particular object. This leads to
anger and acting out behaviors. When
anger dominates we lose abstract thinking. When a person can think in an
abstract way, he or she will make irrecoverable mistakes. They lose sight of
good and bad. This is where composure is essential. We need to control our
emotions otherwise we will invite trouble. These consequences will follow us
forever. When we suffer, we say, Why me?
Why bad things happen to me only? Why I do not have any luck?
Enjoy desires through heart but not
through sensory organs:
Baba
never discouraged people from asking worldly objects. But he said through
grains story (Channa leela – Hemadpant);
“Before
the mind, the intellect and other senses enjoy these objects; remember me first
so that they become an offering to me. The senses can never remain without
their objects; but if these objects are first offered to the Guru, the
attachment for them will naturally vanish.
If
you desire anything, desire me only!
If
you are angry vent your anger on me only! Offer me your pride and stubbornness.
Be
devoted only to me”.
Whenever we
wanted to fulfill a desire, we should first try to understand our mental state
in that circumstance. We got used to using our sensory organs to enjoy any
object. If we can learn to feel this through our heart, it makes a big
difference. When we enjoy any object, what satisfies us is the satiety that we
experience. We forgot to really enjoy the relationships, objects and routine
things in our life. We just acquire objects. We do not pay attention to
relationships. We shut down our bodily mechanisms. Sometimes we just do things
for other people. Other people’s needs become our priorities. We forget that we
are human too. We tend to become robots.
When we
fulfill desire, we tend to move the vibrations of pleasure towards the objects
but not to the heart. This will deprive you from enjoying what you
achieved.
When desires
are understood with our hearts and soul, then we can move away from these objects
easily.
Baba’s teachings to control desires:
Baba said;
“Before the mind, the intellect and other senses enjoy their objects;
remember me first so that they become an offering to me, slowly.
The senses can never remain without their objects; but if these
objects are first offered to the Guru, the attachment for them will naturally
vanish.
If
there is the slightest desire for the enjoyment of these objects; and you think
that Baba is close by, the question whether the object is fit to be enjoyed or
not will at once arise.
The
object that is not fit to be enjoyed will be easily shunned. In this way, the
devotee’s vicious addictions will disappear and an aversion towards the
undesirable will develop.
When such a habit is developed, the thoughts about enjoyment of the
sense objects are weakened. The desire for the worship of the Guru arises and
pure knowledge will sprout.
When pure knowledge grows, the bondage of body-consciousness will
break and the intellect will be merged in spirit consciousness, leading to
infinite bliss.
When you serve the Guru with a pure heart, desire for the objects of
senses will be destroyed from the root.
The mind will become pure and sinless and your “Self” will manifest
with effulgence.
Sai Bandhus!
Let us understand our desires.
Let us analyze the real need
for these desires.
Let us stop
running for the things that we do not need.
Let us turn our
attention to Sai.
Let us get Sai’s grace and walk in the path he showed.
OM SRI SAI RAM!
