Desires...

When desire is absent from the mind, whether it's wanting something or doesn't want something, the mind is peaceful, happy and content during those precious moments of being free from desires.

When desires arise in the mind, but are not being gratified, the mind feels disturbed, unhappy, upset, disappointed and frustrated.

We think that we will be happy and contented if we can gratify all our desires, but the more we gratify the desires, the more desires or craving will arise to be gratified. The mind is forever restless and dissatisfied.

Once a desire is being gratified, it's like adding fuel to the fire. The desires will multiply and grow stronger.

To be free from desires, the only way is to stop gratifying any desires. It's like stop adding fuel to the fire. Eventually all desires will die out completely.

Be free from desires, if we truly want to be in peace.

By performing yoga asana and meditation practice everyday, or attending countless retreats, or trying to accumulate and possess qualities of a 'good being', won't bring us peace, nor make us being free from unhappiness or suffering, if the mind is not free from desires.

When we have interest in learning and practicing yoga and meditation, are we working on the annihilation of desire and egoism, or are we expecting the yoga and meditation practice can fulfill our desires whether it's personal desires or universal desires? Even setting good and positive intention or aspiration before, during or after the yoga and meditation practice, wishing everything to be good and positive, is also a desire. We are not free.

We'll get depressed, disappointed and frustrated with ourselves or others for being not good enough if our personal and universal desires are not being fulfilled the way that we desire it to be.

Mumukshutva is the only 'desire' that will allow us to have the strong will-power and determination to renunciate both the worldly passionate and spiritual desires, and render the mind one-pointed towards emancipation.

There are many people who 'love' yoga and meditation practice, as well as like to attend yoga retreats from time to time, including 'yoga teachers', but only a few are interested in serious yoga sadhana that is about moving the mind away from worldly objects, affairs, activities, sensual enjoyment and social interactions. Solitude of being away from all these worldly activities for a few days or weeks will make them feel so 'wrong' and depressed, not to say seclusion for a few years.

While living in this world having the function of the body and mind, having certain knowledge, skills and talents, we do our best for the well-being of ourselves and for the world, while allowing everything to be what it is, without any desires, intentions, or expectations to make everything to be the way that we want it to be, or the way that we think it should be.

Just like the elements of fire, wind, water, earth and ether. Without any desires, intentions, or expectations to influence or determine everything to be existing or cease existing, but everything exists and cease existing because of the cohesion or dissolution of all these elements.

Om shanti.

All physical activities should be completely suspended, all attachments should be ruthlessly cut asunder completely for five or six years, if you want to practice Dhyana Yoga, if you want to realise God through concentration of mind. Newspaper-reading and correspondence with friends and relatives should be completely stopped; as they cause distraction of mind and strengthen the world-idea. Seclusion for a period of five or six years is indispensable.

Swami Sivananda