Bhagavadgita 3.8 Karma Yoga - Desires

Bhagavan emphasized the importance of one's own duty that is "Swadharma". Dharma essentially means "The law of being". Arjuna asks Bhagavan "Why people are compelled to commit sins against their wishes". Then Bhagavan answers as follows.

Kama esha krodha esha rajoguna samudhbhavah !
Mahasaano mahapaapma viddhyena-miha vairinam!! 

"It is desire, it is anger born out of passion (rajo guna), alldevouring, all sinful; know this as the enemy in this world"

The Bhagavan speaks as follows.

Desires originate from Passion (rajo Guna) and the desires in turn lead to anger if they are not fulfilled. There is no end to this cycle and desires can never be satisfied. They will arise one after another. This is like objects in the fire. The fire will be more intense as we add more objects to it.  This is what compels us to commit sins. That’s why Bhagavan says that the passion towards desires is our worst enemy.

Desires, anger and other qualities like greed, jealousy etc. are all enemies but desire is the prime problem in this group. This is what takes us towards losing control. We want things around us certain way and if they are not we feel uncomfortable. This will mask our intellect and we will turn a blind eye towards reality. In the next sloka Bhagavan explains this way.

Dhumenaavriyate vahnih yadha adharsah malena cha!

Yadholbhenaavrutogarbhah tadhaa tenedamaavrutam!!

As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as an embryo by the womb, so this wisdom is enveloped by that desire.

Our desires make us unhappy. The unhappiness comes both from good and evil desires. We are worried about losing the good things and we shy away from the uncomfortable feelings. The passion with which we organize and conduct ourselves will create more problems. In this process our intellect is blocked as smoke envelops the fire. There is no clarity when the mirror is not dust free. The selfish nature in the human mind will compel us to continue this vicious cycle. We cannot escape from committing sins as desire and anger overtakes our intellect. The sense organs, mind and intellect are the main sources for these desires and they trip us in our life.

What do we need to do to overcome this problem?

First we have to learn to control the sense organs which may not be that easy. But Bhagavan says   this is possible through practice and dispassion towards the objects. We have to understand the desires and their origins. Once we start understanding the root of the desires, then we control the senses easily. By any means we have to start practicing this method. While concluding the third chapter Bhagavan summarizes the methods to control desires. The sense organs are much more subtler than the external body. The mind is more subtle than sense organs. Then the intellect comes into the picture. The soul (Atma) is subtler than all of them. If we can use our intellect we can easily control our mind. Most important aspect of controlling desires is controlling the attachment towards the objects. Bhagavan also highlights this point and people should not misunderstand that we should live without desires. This is wrong notion about the spirituality. We can enjoy what comes along but we have to monitor the attachment and passion with which we crave for those objects.

We took life to go through pains and pleasures. No one can escape this as this is dependent on our past actions. If we start practicing the principles of Karma Yoga we will live our lives with completeness and joy. We can face any life circumstance with intelligence and resolve.  

OM SRI SAI RAM !