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Panchadashi Lesson G0320: Uncontrollable Desires

Panchadashi
Module - G
Unit - G03
Lesson G0320: Uncontrollable Desires (Without the support of the mind)
By Raja Subramaniyan

Some of the uncontrollable desires will force us to do things, which we really do not want to do. However, we have no choice. The past actions were nearer to the stage of completion and we will have to take the task to its logical conclusion.

Even our own mind may be convinced against the desire. Nevertheless, we will be forced to entertain such desire. Such is the power of these uncontrollable desires.

Example: Siddhartha's desire to leave the kingdom is an example of uncontrollable desire operating without the support of his mind. His wife, newborn baby, the king and the kingdom could not convince him to stay back in the palace. His love for his family lost the battle to the desire, which took him to the forest.

Such uncontrollable desires are so powerful our own will power cannot overcome them. If it is a bad desire, even if we want to correct ourselves, it will not be possible. If it is a good desire, even if there were many hurdles/ obstacles including our own will power, we will find a way to fulfill such desire.

Example: Bhishma's desire to win the Mahabaratha war is without the support of his mind. Although his heart was with Pandavas he had to fight for Kauravas.

There will be generally no way out to abandon such desire. Actually, it cannot even be called as a desire since we do not desire it. However, our actions are prompted by such desires and therefore, we need to call it as desire.

Example: A pure vegetarian is forced to eat non-vegetarian food in a foreign country where nothing else is available. He does not have any desire to eat meat but he ends up eating due to the compelling circumstances.

There is another dimension to such desires. May be at present we do not like to do certain actions but if it is our basic nature, we cannot avoid it.

Example: Arjuna's basic nature is to be a warrior. However, on the battlefield he has developed a desire to abandon the war and renounce the world. Such desires are temporary. He must disregard his desire and stick to his nature, which is to fight. Even if he abandons the battle and walk away, he will not be satisfied for long outside. He will soon return to the battlefield since it is his basic nature to fight.

In such situations, it is wise to go against our own wish and act in line with the uncontrollable desires.

In general, no one likes to commit a sin. However, many do commit sins. This happens due to the uncontrollable desire. The intelligence is very clear that a particular action is wrong. Nevertheless, the mind feels just the opposite. As a result, there is an internal struggle between the intelligence and the mind. If one has not trained the mind adequately, the mind revolts and most of the time mind wins over intelligence. Thus, sins are committed without any desire to do so.

This can be verified in our day-to-day experience. Our intelligence is convinced that it is good to get up from bed at 5 am. However, when we wake up, our mind struggles against the earlier decision and forces us to go back to sleep. This happens only when the mind is not trained to obey the commands of the intelligence.

Panchadashi Lesson G0319: Uncontrollable Desires << Home >> Panchadashi Lesson G0321: Neutral Desires

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