We have endless desires. They are with us from the time we are born. The need for more colourful toys, then the ones which make more noise, later on bigger and better ones than others – we can see even tots collecting and holding on to things. When a sibling or a friend takes away a toy – there is chaos in the house and calm reigns only when the toy is restored to the original owner. As we grow older, the variety and nature of toys and possession we desire and collect change. But the desire for possessions does not change till death. Even at the point of death, we yearn to keep the wealth, name and fame safe with our families.
Desire and need for possession, wealth, name and fame is a spectacular and elaborate trap. Once we are in the maze, each turn takes us to a larger and more worthy possessions and desire. We are led to bigger and better items. Initially, we collect things as we feel the need to improve on what we have. Then we want to possess those things which are better than our neighbours. Then we want to be the best in the locality, then state, then country and then the world. This need to possess becomes an obsession which is a cancerous growth. It consumes all our time, energy and efforts. We do not have time to enjoy simple pleasures of life, even enjoy what we have worked for and have accumulated as we are always on the look out to see what is bigger and better than what we have now. Family, relationships, friendship, love, even personal health and peace of mind are sacrificed on the altar of desires and possessions. Relationship with Divinity – if at all there is one – is only a means to an end. We seek God only to get more and more of what we want and not what we need or require. We do not love God for what He is but for what He can give us. Unless we learn to enjoy what we have without this crazy desire for newer and better models, we will live our lives without being able to enjoy ourselves in any way – love, laughter, song, dance or bliss. Sri Ramakrishna speaks of one such example:
Once, a woman went to visit her weaver friend after a long time. The weaver was weaving a beautiful rug from many different colour silk threads. Both friends were very happy to see each other. They hugged each other and the hostess went to bring refreshments for her friend. The friend was alone in the room and looked at the colourful gleaming bundles of silk threads. The colours shone and twinkled and she was tempted. She picked up a bundle of gleaming silk thread and hid them under one arm.
The weaver returned presently and offered a variety of delicious foods and drinks to her friend. As they were talking and laughing, the weaver looked at her work in progress and realised that a bundle of silk thread was missing and that her friend had taken it. She wanted her bundle of thread back without accusing her friend. She told her friend that she was very happy and began to sing and dance. She laughed joyously and asked her friend to join in her dancing. When they danced, the weaver raised both arms and danced and asked her to friend to copy her. But the guest danced with one hand pressed to side and gesturing with the other arm. She said: This is all I know of dancing.
When we have possession and objects of desire, we hold on to them and are unable to let go. Then our expression of joy is also stilted. We have fear in our hearts and keep holding on to the objects of desire. Like the friend in the story who held on to the stolen bundle of silken thread, we hold on to what we feel is dear to us and we are unable to raise both hands in dance, prayer or surrender to God. We are unable to express our basic nature - Bliss and Happiness. We move about in life like a physically challenged person instead of walking with energetic strides and moving freely. Only when we learn to let go and reach out to Divinity, we are able to move in life with energy, laughter, love and bliss. Let us let go and reach out to Divinity. It is the best gift we can give ourselves.
