Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The White Hindu

Home
Hindu
How Do You Curb Desire?

How Do You Curb Desire?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:29 pm by Ambaa Choate

How Do You Curb Desire? 2015-03-13T22:29:26-04:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Being away from my usual distractions I was able to see more clearly how desire keeps us chained. I saw a sign at a temple that said “As long as there is desire, you cannot escape the cycle of birth and death.” But how can you break that chain?

Desire is SO powerful and our lives train us to increase desire. I feel like every time I’m looking at a group of things the expectation is I’m supposed to be picking which one I most want. In every down moment it’s like I’m supposed to be thinking about what I want next.

One desire follows the next in an exhausting tableaux. One is hardly satisfied before there is another.

I lived a few days at the Ramanasram in a little room like a monastic cell with just what was in my carry-on suitcase. It was peaceful and lovely and a relief. I couldn’t live that simply all the time but it felt good to do it for a few days. Not that I was free from desire even during that time. There was still the “what do I desire from this experience?” “What do I desire to bring back with me emotionally?” and the usual “What do I desire to eat?” “Do I desire to go out to the town and buy some gift or token or thing?”

Then there was going to darshans with my guru and admiring other ladies’ clothes. I find myself thinking that I should add a half-saree to my wardrobe. Maybe in yellow.

The first time I noticed it was when we were supposed to get a commemorative coin for the Shishya Sweekara. This was a thing that I didn’t know about five minutes before but now I wanted it. It seemed like a really cool souvenir to have. I get trying to figure out how we were supposed to get it but we never were able to. And then I was frustrated with myself that I was disappointed. I was there to focus on my inner journey not to come away with some token thing. Why was I feeling disappointed?

I spent more money than I should have during my time in India. I spent money that my dad generously gave me. I got the Saraswati murti that I wanted and I got some gifts and I got some great books and CDs for worship. But it was still stuff. It was still standing in a store and thinking about which I want.

And I’m so sick of it!

Back home I’m right back to which book do I want to get and which video game do I want to save up for and what groceries do I want and what on the menu at the restaurant do I want and what piece of clothing do I want to buy and what new thing do I want to acquire.

In some ways I think there is a comfort in that familiar gentle longing of what the next thing is on my wishlist that I’m working towards being able to purchase. My mind does not want to let go of that behavior!

But my mind is so distracted by that and in the meantime always wanting something else doesn’t lead to being happy. Plus it keeps my mind from engaging with what’s most important in life. It can keep me from digging into the self-examination that enlightenment involves.

And always wanting something will keep me stuck in this cycle, not allowing me to move on to the next stage for my soul.

I must find a way to silence desire for at least short periods at a time.

getting rid of desire

Previous Post

February 18, 2015

The Rumors Are True: Southern Temples and Foreigners

Next Post

February 20, 2015 Being Dragged Back to Earth

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus say to calm the storm?

Select your answer to see how you score.

"Do not be afraid." "Let there be calm." "Cease, wind!" "Peace, be still!"