Suggestions to handle desires efficiently

Suggestions to handle desires efficiently

“There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it.”- George Bernard Shaw

It is so true. Often we loose interest in what we have, and run after something which we do not have or should not have. In both situations we are sad, unhappy and restless. Our health, relationships, position, and prosperity - everything changes in due course of time. To accept those obvious changes gracefully and with confidence, we need to develop calmness and clarity of mind.

The diverse experiences of life make us more alert. We learn to be mindful to see things with more clarity. It is through the ups and downs of life that we get an opportunity to grow spiritually and learn to take responsibility of our own destiny in our hands.

God has given us intelligence, ability and freedom of choice. But often instead of actualizing those God given virtues, we get stuck to one idea or another, and use all our senses to pursue it, and eventually get entangled in many misfortunes. Also our careless behavior can cause lot of pain among our dear ones. But just with mindful observation of one’s tendencies, and by evaluating the consequences before we act, many painful situations can be avoided.

We know our thoughts and actions create permanent tendencies in our mind. These tendencies (vritti in Sanskrit spiritual literature) shape our path. As LaoTzu says, if you live too much in the dark you become allergic to light, if you live too much in impurity you become allergic to purity.

Tendencies that create imbalance, by definition will bring temporary excitement, but will likely create lasting damage to our mind, physical body, and energy (subtle body), and in effect, our soul.  When we lose a sense of balance, our senses are excited and we often become aggressive. It is essential to train the mind, even as a child, when the mind is in an impressionable mold and can be shaped in positive way to have proper control over their senses, thoughts and actions.

Contentment is a great virtue. But often we set our targets based on others, and that makes us unhappy, frustrated and jealous.  We must remember everybody reaches their own goal, according to his own physical and mental capabilities, and the tendencies they have developed. As we all differ on the point of our capabilities and tendencies, our achievements cannot be the same. We may desire, put our best effort, and whatever is the outcome, we should learn to accept that with a happy and contented mind, without feeling jealous of others. Bringing simplicity, purity and sincerity in our thought, actions and effort, we can surely create a happy balanced state in life.  

Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh says, “If we suffer in the present moment, we should look deeply into the kind of desire that has made us suffer…our notion of happiness may be responsible for our suffering” (Ref: under the Banyan Tree, page 30.)

Without being obsessed by only with one idea, if we try to connect with the positive possibilities around us, we may find some way to transform our pain in a meaningful direction.

The life of a great theosophist, Anne Besant is one such example. She was greatly depressed to see her only child suffering from an incurable disease. After learning about the “karmic law” of eastern philosophy, she came to India and devoted her life working for the betterment of women and children. She also adopted an orphan boy, named J. D. Krishnamurthy, who became a great spiritual master, and also inspired many with his writings and oratory. Perhaps if she had not faced such a misfortune, her life might not have been as meaningful and consequential as it ended up and nor would she have been an extraordinary mother to an extraordinary son.

Intense suffering awakens our natural empathy. It makes us understand that suffering is not unique, it is being shared by millions other beings. When we feel others’ pain as ours own, it is the stepping stone to come out from self centeredness. And while it motivates us to do some good for other suffering souls, it also helps us to achieve a higher order of consciousness.

This natural empathy can also be realized through meditation. By relaxing the body, and concentrating on the breathing, or single pointedness - when mind calms down, and thoughts fall away, we realize that the life force which is keeping us alive is precisely the same life force also keeping everybody alive in this planet. That not just this life force, but this conscious awareness is a single shared entity. With an awareness of that divine spark in us and in all, we realize that though we have a separate body and individual thoughts, but we are not just body and thoughts, but interconnected spiritual beings. Behind the body-mind complex, behind the nervous system or psychic system, there is one infinite spirit (Atman) which is ever pure and ever free. And that is our true nature.

With realization of the Divine within, we step out from our tiny ego, and feel one with all.

Shankaryacharya says in his Upanishad commentary, “take away the Atman from the world, the world becomes a zero”, and as soon as we put ‘one’ (Atman) before zero, everything becomes valuable. This awareness of the Atman makes us capable to establish happy relations with others, to be tolerant and to be compassionate.

Today’s high pressure world is breaking our psychic and nervous system, but can be conquered only by the strength of inner spirituality. But to achieve anything, effort is required, and it is worth making that effort for this cause alone.

 Edited by Prodeep Bose