Thursday, September 5, 2019

Insatiable Desires

We are like moths plunging into the flaming fire, knowing that it will burn us, knowing that the senses only burn us, that they only enhance desire. 

"Desire is never satiated by enjoyment; enjoyment only increases desire as butter fed into fire increases the fire."[Bhagavata IX.xix.14] 
Desire is increased by desire. Knowing all this, people still plunge into it all the time. Life after life they have been going after the objects of desire, suffering extremely in consequence, yet they cannot give up desire. 

Even religion, which should rescue them from this terrible bondage of desire, they have made a means of satisfying desire. Rarely do they ask God to free them from bondage to the body and senses, from slavery to desires. 
Instead, they pray to Him for health and prosperity, for long life: "O God, cure my headache, give me some money or something!"  

                 - Swami Vivekananda, 
                   ‘Discipleship’, Talk at San Francisco   

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