Peace of mind -1. Swami Chinmayananda
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24/09/2019.
Peace of mind
1. The Nature of Desire :
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Once a desire arises, we cannot forget it. There is complete insistence that things must happen the way we want. As long as we have such desires, it is impossible to gain peace. We cannot even sleep properly because our mind is so riddled with desires, let alone poised enough to gain that great and permanent peace.
Another characteristic of desire is that once we have enjoyed something, we crave for it again and again. If we feel itchy and make the mistake of scratching, we will find that the itching increases. The nature of desire is just like having an itch. Once we start enjoying something, there will be more and more craving and longing for it. We keep planning for those pleasures we have not yet experienced, and then after having enjoyed them, we remember them constantly and crave for them. These are the two main things that tend to disturb us when we sit for meditation or when we go to sleep. Either we continue to plan for the future, or we try to remember our past experiences.
This does not mean that we should not plan anything. It is not the day-to-day planning for our job or profession that we need to give up, but it is the planning for pleasures and remembering them that create agitation in the mind. Therefore, if we give up these two—remembering the past and planning for the future—along with correct understanding, we can experience peace beyond our imagination.
NEXT : 2. My-ness Causes Sorrow :
To be continued ..
========================================================================
24/09/2019.
Peace of mind
1. The Nature of Desire :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once a desire arises, we cannot forget it. There is complete insistence that things must happen the way we want. As long as we have such desires, it is impossible to gain peace. We cannot even sleep properly because our mind is so riddled with desires, let alone poised enough to gain that great and permanent peace.
Another characteristic of desire is that once we have enjoyed something, we crave for it again and again. If we feel itchy and make the mistake of scratching, we will find that the itching increases. The nature of desire is just like having an itch. Once we start enjoying something, there will be more and more craving and longing for it. We keep planning for those pleasures we have not yet experienced, and then after having enjoyed them, we remember them constantly and crave for them. These are the two main things that tend to disturb us when we sit for meditation or when we go to sleep. Either we continue to plan for the future, or we try to remember our past experiences.
This does not mean that we should not plan anything. It is not the day-to-day planning for our job or profession that we need to give up, but it is the planning for pleasures and remembering them that create agitation in the mind. Therefore, if we give up these two—remembering the past and planning for the future—along with correct understanding, we can experience peace beyond our imagination.
NEXT : 2. My-ness Causes Sorrow :
To be continued ..
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