To Desire or Not to Desire, That is the Question…
Is it nobler to sit, meditate and desire nothing? Should I detach from the world, sit like a yogi as the world passes me by like so many clouds coming and going?
Or… should I play full out, totally engage, really go for what I want, no holds barred?
Hmm… seems like a conflict. To attach or not, to desire or not, to engage or disengage.
Buddhist Eastern thought advises us to stop getting hung up on desires, which are but mirages in an impermanent world. Stop attaching to desires and you stop suffering.
Western philosophy tells us to work hard and create a productive life.
Further, the law of attraction suggests your desires are an outreach of source itself, wanting to explore and express itself through you.
SOLVING THE RIDDLE
Perhaps both paths are right. Desire and don’t desire.
Of course there is a wide range of desires. Certain ones can become cravings (addictions, bad habits, etc), which are unhealthy and our life often reflects such imbalances.
But then our creativity and higher vibrations can spring from desire too. Acting on creative desires gives us purpose in life and can benefit others (support the greater whole).
When we follow our “heart’s desires” from a deeper place with an open mind, our life takes on a wonderful glow, a greater meaning. Surely this can’t be suffering due to these creative desires.
If we use our talents and skills, if we help others, if we contribute more, we feel good. We feel fulfilled from knowing we have given our best.
We do need a certain amount of drive to succeed. A “desireless,” half-hearted attempt won’t do it.
However, if we attached too much to our desires, even the creative loftier ones, disappointment will follow.
SO ULTIMATELY…
So ultimately you can desire and live a great life without being (too) attached to those desires. It is a balancing act.
As visionary thinker Clare Graves described, you become “a person who has ambition but is not ambitious.”
You may desire to be an ascetic monk, who might not have that much interaction with others. Most will fulfill themselves through creative desires that involve others, in both giving and receiving.
However temporary all of this may be, the journey can be extraordinary, with miraculous discoveries and experiences along the way.
Yes, desire — it’s natural and can be powerfully uplifting and fun. Just bring consciousness to your desires. Then as Dr. Seuss once wrote, “Oh, the places you’ll go!”
What’s your view on whether to desire or not? We’d like to hear your comments below.
