Desire is a natural impulse that drives human beings to act and express himself/herself. Desire is also the cause of self-alienation, mental agitations and the insatiable pursuit of possessions and pleasures. Every individual has to determine for himself the contours and the meeting points of desire and desirelessness. Desire leads to self-expression and success in the world. Desirelessness leads to inner stability and fulfillment. But the flipside of desirelessness is lethargy and otherworldliness that make individuals incompetent in the world of action. The challenge is to understand the significance of desire in human development and the meaning of desirelessness in human fulfillment. The Indian wisdom traditions teach a perfect balance between these two opposing directions of desire.
Swami Bodhananda
21 May 2006