"To be content with what we possess is the greatest and most secure of riches." - Marcus Tullius Cicero Kabir - The couplet चाह मिटी, चिंता मिटी मनवा बेपरवाह । जिसको कुछ नहीं चाहिए वह शहनशाह॥ Transliterated: Chaah miti, chinta miti, manwa beparwaah | Jisko kuch nahi chahiye, wah Shahenshah || Translation: Says Kabir – when desire vanishes, so does worry | He who desires nothing, is the true lord of all || My understanding: It is easy to say – and so many say it – conquer desire, and you will find true satisfaction. But how does one go about it? Conquering desire is not an easy task, as it involves a fundamental shift in how we think and approach life. However, there are several steps one must take to conquer desire: • Recognize the root of desire: Understand that desire is often driven by a sense of lack or dissatisfaction and recognize that this sense of lack is often rooted in our thoughts and beliefs. • Practice mindfulness: Develop a regular mindfulness practice, such as meditation or yoga, to help you become more aware of your thoughts and emotions. • Cultivate contentment: Learn to appreciate what you already have, and find contentment in simple pleasures. • Focus on gratitude: Focus on the good things in your life, and practice gratitude regularly. • Set realistic goals: Instead of focusing on material possessions or achievements, set realistic goals that align with your values and contribute to your personal growth. • Limit exposure to media: Limit your exposure to media that promotes materialism and consumerism, as this can fuel desire and create a sense of lack. • Practice self-control: Develop self-control by learning to delay gratification and resisting impulsive urges. • Seek support: Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist to help you stay on track and navigate any challenges that arise. • Engage in meaningful activities: Engage in activities that bring you fulfillment and meaning, such as volunteering or pursuing a passion. • Embrace impermanence: Recognize that everything is impermanent and focus on living in the present moment, rather than clinging to desires or attachments.
Great input Manigaru.
In order to do 1st one Root cause of desire , how what I should do?
Some of the things I do is self introspection. Rumination of thoughts bring me down.
Again get up and build self confidence to overcome. Again fail.
Unable to establish the root cause… sounds silly but it is true.
Desire, when fully present, is like the virus resistant to all anti-viruses – it does not allow us to think outside of itself and hence, will not allow us to overcome it.
The answer is simple – if difficult to put into practice. One needs to step outside of the virulent self and become the observer, rather than the doer – an then we can identify the root cause.