Sri Paramarthananda says:
“At any point of time, we have a certain number of wants (desires) to be fulfilled. (Denominator) Out of these, a certain number of desires would have been fulfilled. (Numerator). If both the numbers are equal, the quotient is One or the equilibrium. That means all the desires that were stacked on the mind have been fulfilled In life, this equilibrium is never achieved.
Fulfilling desires requires time, effort and resources. Whereas, desires can be, and are, multiplied several times by the mind. without any of the three above. So, the denominator increases at a faster rate than the numerator. The result is that the value of the Quotient is constantly decreasing in value..
As a result of this disequilibrium of unfulfilled desires, we go through severe emotional disturbances such as frustration, disappointment, depression and even anger”.
Wants vary in their ethical quality from the very bad, undesirable wants to the’ not so bad’ wants. Wants have the latent tendency to multiply. They also vary in grades ranging from absolute necessity to abhorrent luxury
If wants are left unbridled, they will take full control over man.
Here is a story from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:
A venerable sadhu visited a village and expressed his desire to have a place in the outskirts of the village. The villagers, out of respect for him, built for him a thatched hut and resurrected a well nearby with a copious supply of water for his use.
He started his spiritual exercises and lived on the food offered by the villagers..His only wardrobe was a few pieces of loin cloth (Kaupina).
Every morning after his bath, he would hang his wet loin cloth on a tree close to his hut for drying. One morning, he found that some rats had cut holes in his loin cloth. This happened every day till all his loin cloths became unusable.He went to the village, represented his problem and got a piece of cloth for making some more loin cloths.
The villagers advised him to have a cat to get rid of the rats and also gave him a kitten. From the next day, the cat took care of the rats which ran away, never to return.
The cat had to be fed with some milk and, so, he went to the village and got some milk everyday to feed the cat.
The villagers were not able to give him milk everyday. They advised him that he should keep a milch cow which could give sufficient milk for him and the cat.The Sadhu got a cow with his savings and the milk problem was solved with plenty of milk, some which he even gave away for money.
But he had to find some straw for feeding the cow, The villagers asked him to cultivate a piece of uncultivated land near his hut and the Sadhu , with the help of some labourers, started growing some crops which gave him adequate straw for the cow and also some money.
Thus he became a landlord !
In due course, he built a small house, married a girl, and had children.
Thus a venerable sadhu became a wearisome samsaari !
By Admin
CovaiCare Retirement Communities