Internal Auditing - Body,Mind and Beyond - Breaking Free from the Trap of Desire Series- 12

 

Breaking Free from the Trap of Desire

The Infinite Nature of Human Desire

Desire is a force greater than the universe itself—an unending cycle that expands the more it is indulged. The scriptures reveal that even if one were granted every pleasure on Earth, desire would still remain unfulfilled.

Consider the journey of success in modern society. A fresh university graduate in the United States might dream of becoming a millionaire, believing that wealth will bring happiness. However, once they achieve this milestone, new desires emerge—the pursuit of greater riches, competing with billionaires, and surpassing industry leaders like Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates.

The more one possesses, the more one craves. This proves that desire knows no satiation—it multiplies endlessly, leading to greed and dissatisfaction.

The Consequences of Desire: Anger, Greed, and Delusion

When desires are fulfilled, they breed greed—a hunger for more. When desires are obstructed, they lead to anger. The Bhagavad Gita warns that anger causes:

• Delusion—losing perspective on what truly matters.
• Memory distortion—forgetting higher truths and wisdom.
• Intellectual ruin—when reasoning fails, decisions become reckless.
• Spiritual downfall—the soul gets trapped in material illusion.

Thus, the entire cycle of suffering originates from uncontrolled desire.

Conversely, freedom from desire dismantles greed, anger, and all associated afflictions, elevating the individual to a God-like state.

Ancient Wisdom on Desire and Suffering

Buddhist philosophy is deeply rooted in understanding suffering. The Four Noble Truths state:

1. Suffering is a reality of life.
2. Every suffering has a cause.
3. The root of suffering is desire.
4. Eliminating desire leads to liberation from suffering.

Similarly, Hindu philosophy, including Sankhya Darshan, echoes this truth—affirming that desires must be transcended to attain true peace.

Lessons from Nature: How Desire Traps Us

Desires are not just human struggles—they are observable in nature, often leading to fatal consequences:

• The deer, entranced by the hunter’s melody, falls prey to the arrow.
• The elephant, lured by touch, descends into a pit and perishes.
• The moth, attracted by light, flies into a flame and dies.
• The fish, tempted by bait, gets hooked by the fisherman.
• The bee, immersed in a lotus flower’s nectar, fails to notice dusk, becoming trapped until devoured by an elephant.

Each creature falls victim to a single overpowering desire. But humans indulge multiple desires through all five senses—leading to even greater suffering.

The Root Cause of Desire: Mental Attachment

Desires do not emerge from the intrinsic qualities of objects. Instead, they come from the mind’s attachment.

For example:

• Alcohol, objectively, has a foul aroma—but an alcoholic perceives its scent as intoxicatingly pleasurable.
• Video games, for one person, may seem mundane—but for an addicted gamer, they are irresistible.

This proves that objects themselves do not create desire—it is our own mental attachment that generates craving.

How Attachment Forms in the Mind

The Bhagavad Gita explains:

• Wherever the mind repeatedly contemplates happiness, attachment forms.
• The more one associates an object with pleasure, the stronger the bond.
• Over time, the mind clings to certain things, driving compulsive desires.

Thus, desire does not originate externally—it is cultivated within.

Breaking Free: The Path to Liberation

To escape the trap of desire, one must:

1. Recognize its illusory nature—pleasure is fleeting, and indulging desires only fuels more cravings.
2. Detach the mind from attachments—train the intellect to focus on higher wisdom instead of material gratification.
3. Embrace spiritual discipline—self-control, meditation, and surrender help dissolve compulsive desires.

The Ultimate Transformation: Becoming God-Like

Spiritual texts affirm that the fortunate soul who overcomes desires becomes God-like. When the mind transcends attachment, suffering dissolves, leading to a state of divine fulfillment and eternal peace.

This is not just philosophy—it is a call to shift one’s mindset. By controlling desires rather than being ruled by them, one finds true joy beyond material satisfaction.

Warm regards.

........To be continued