The intersecting point between desire and the root cause for desire is like two boxers in the ring going at it. On one side of the ring we have the output of attachment – desire – driven by our mind. It is here where we take some initiative in the form of thought and action that makes us cling on to those things that we fantasize about. Some of these things we want are everlasting love, a continuous feeling of acceptance, the latest electronic gadget, and the greatest vacation on Earth.
Oh – let’s get real here folks – some of these things are nothing more than a Disney World fantasy where our anticipated sense of expectation doesn’t even come close to what we actually experience.
On the other side of the ring we have some input to attachment – a decision – brought forth through a series of codes developed within our personal operating system. It is here where there is some processing and decision-making mechanism driven by our intellect that takes root. The intellect is the decision platform where the roots of attachment reside.
The intellect knows what is the right path – the truth – but is in many ways clouded by the mind. The battle in the ring between the intellect and mind comes into fruition as the intellect knows what is just and knows how to play with rules, but the mind says something else and leads us in another direction, and hence the subliminal fight begins.
In brief, the intellect provides the platform for the root of desire to take shape which is executed by the mind. Confused? You should be – Swamis and Pundits have geeked out over this for years creating a contorted philosophy that provides some explanation of why we are the way we are.
Let’s explore the areas of outputs. If the attachment to desire is not met, we get angry. On the other hand, if desires are met, we want more – and we become addictive to the result.
The fight in the ring between our two outputs – anger (due to not meeting desire) and addiction (due to meeting desire) – will cause a mind-game inside of you that will lead you to mentally explode unless you figure out way to destroy desire. If the attachment to desire is the cause for two of the worse things you can do to yourself that create pain bodies of anger and attachment – isn’t the destruction of desire the way toward inner peace?
There are two things that we need to be cognizant here that are extremely important to keep in mind to help destroy desire:
- There must be elimination of bad attachment. There is good attachment and bad attachment. Good attachment can come in the form of self-less service where you are giving up your ego to become attached to the creation of joy for others, or attachment to faith for greater healing. Bad attachment can come in the form of continuously taking out a hanky and polishing your shoe every time a speck of dust hits it. Gambling is another form of bad attachment that can have series financial and mental repercussions.
- Becoming more dispassionate is a trait that you should make your best friend. There is no need for any reaction as an output of an action or as an input. You have to learn to be discriminatory in what your mind “may be made up to perform” and how your intellect really wants you to act.
In what way the intellect needs be developed in order to control the mind is something that we all struggle to achieve. In many ways yoga, meditation, faith, devotion, positive thinking and righteous practices towards others are some ways individuals have experimented with in order to create an optimum decision-making platform that seamlessly and positively leads the mind.
What is happening today, is that there is confusion as to how much we really need in order to be happy. We think that material things and physical objects will make us happy, but there is increased tensions caused by these things as well.
The only way to overcome desires is to listen deep within and figure out if what your mind and whatever thoughts are coming your way – will really make you happy. The mind reacts based on the senses and feelings. The mind sees things from the outside and says “well, if it is good for someone else, it will be good for you too.” The intellect goes much deeper and says “this thing is likely irrelevant for your happiness”.
It is up to you to determine the fine line messaging between your mind and intellect and act in the best way. Sometimes, not acting – and hence, not wanting – is probably the best path toward inner peace.