Daily Readings from the Works of Swami Venkatesananda


Daily Readings Vol 1 No Desires No Aspirations

September 28, 2023

No Desires, No Aspirations

Swami Venkatesananda    What is perfection? When there are no more cravings, no more aspirations. How does one reach a state where there are no aspirations, no desires? We have been told that one keeps desiring something: “I wish to be healthier, to do better, I desire peace of mind, to become divine, and God-realization, to be a yogi ....”

     It has been said that this desire is like a catalyst, like a fire that burns everything and burns itself out when the time comes. The beautiful analogy given is that desire for self-realization is like fire which reduces all other desires to ashes and eventually goes out.

     This is possible if you are terribly vigilant and careful. If I desire to be a yogi, then so long as the desire lasts, I am not a yogi. If I am anxious to have peace of mind, I am like the person who is preoccupied with the need for falling asleep and repeats, “I must sleep, I must sleep.” He will not sleep! Possibly, if I stop telling myself, “I must sleep,” I will fall asleep immediately.

Back to Daily Readings