Wants and desires have their roots in the urge for selfgratification. They are the distorted versions of the original sublime urge for a merger with the Divine. Having forgotten the true import and the primal goal of this urge, we engage ourselves in the futile task of somehow satisfying endless demands generated by the ego and senses. We need to only jog our memory.
When we embark upon the eternal chain of life, we are governed by two unique decrees under the Divine plan. Firstly, despite our divine origin, we fall under the spell of duality which creates an illusion of separation from the Absolute. Secondly, through a series of lives, unique to each one of us, we work our way back to the original non-dual state of merger with the Supreme.
We meander through many lives. Throughout this inevitable evolutionary process, on one side is the pull of separation from the One and, on the other, the longing for reunion. We experience constantly the outward pull of duality against the inward push of non-duality.
Duality has been created and so we marvel at and enjoy the world’s bewitching material extravaganza and the merger is offered so that we enjoy the ineffable bliss of Oneness. Both states are equally beautiful and one must endeavour towards experiencing both. Without this constant endeavour, life becomes meaningless. The illusion of separation through duality causes loss of wisdom, and reduces clarity of thought. This is spiritual ignorance or avidya. We flounder in avidya to get self-gratification. Wants and desires are thus rooted in avidya.
At some point in our evolutionary cycle, the true goal of life again becomes clear to us. We then get captivated by the idea of reaching it. As our aspiration increases, worldly desires slowly drop off. The endeavour itself becomes a self-fulfilling goal. It gathers momentum and propels us towards Divinity. Desires turn into an intense aspiration for the Supreme.
The spiritual path undertaken to reunite with the Supreme need not prevent us from having normal relationships, material goals, and enjoyment of wealth and comforts; nor should we be riddled with guilt for this. What drops off are greed and unquenchable, unreasonable, endless wants. Knowledge and guidance arise from within and inherent dynamism comes to the fore, although the goal and the path now stand altered.
In the striving for Oneness with the Divine, there are no desires. There is such a state of perfection and beauty that nothing is felt lacking. Nothing more is needed. There is a feeling of total fullness and completion. The urge to take the right action comes as intuition with a certainty that is born of inner knowledge. Then whatever action is undertaken springs from purity, from knowledge and from spontaneity, rather than from desire and selfish motives.
We are free now. Free of all the extraneous, detrimental, misery-begetting desires. Free from bondage. This is true freedom, known in spiritual parlance as nirvana or mukti. We, each one of us, can move towards this state by choosing to embark on a path that leads to the Divine, shorn of duality and externality. The feeling of oneness permeates entire creation, and unfettered, we move towards infinity.
When we embark upon the eternal chain of life, we are governed by two unique decrees under the Divine plan. Firstly, despite our divine origin, we fall under the spell of duality which creates an illusion of separation from the Absolute. Secondly, through a series of lives, unique to each one of us, we work our way back to the original non-dual state of merger with the Supreme.
We meander through many lives. Throughout this inevitable evolutionary process, on one side is the pull of separation from the One and, on the other, the longing for reunion. We experience constantly the outward pull of duality against the inward push of non-duality.
Duality has been created and so we marvel at and enjoy the world’s bewitching material extravaganza and the merger is offered so that we enjoy the ineffable bliss of Oneness. Both states are equally beautiful and one must endeavour towards experiencing both. Without this constant endeavour, life becomes meaningless. The illusion of separation through duality causes loss of wisdom, and reduces clarity of thought. This is spiritual ignorance or avidya. We flounder in avidya to get self-gratification. Wants and desires are thus rooted in avidya.
At some point in our evolutionary cycle, the true goal of life again becomes clear to us. We then get captivated by the idea of reaching it. As our aspiration increases, worldly desires slowly drop off. The endeavour itself becomes a self-fulfilling goal. It gathers momentum and propels us towards Divinity. Desires turn into an intense aspiration for the Supreme.
The spiritual path undertaken to reunite with the Supreme need not prevent us from having normal relationships, material goals, and enjoyment of wealth and comforts; nor should we be riddled with guilt for this. What drops off are greed and unquenchable, unreasonable, endless wants. Knowledge and guidance arise from within and inherent dynamism comes to the fore, although the goal and the path now stand altered.
In the striving for Oneness with the Divine, there are no desires. There is such a state of perfection and beauty that nothing is felt lacking. Nothing more is needed. There is a feeling of total fullness and completion. The urge to take the right action comes as intuition with a certainty that is born of inner knowledge. Then whatever action is undertaken springs from purity, from knowledge and from spontaneity, rather than from desire and selfish motives.
We are free now. Free of all the extraneous, detrimental, misery-begetting desires. Free from bondage. This is true freedom, known in spiritual parlance as nirvana or mukti. We, each one of us, can move towards this state by choosing to embark on a path that leads to the Divine, shorn of duality and externality. The feeling of oneness permeates entire creation, and unfettered, we move towards infinity.
No comments:
Post a Comment