In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna tells Arjuna that ‘the insatiable fire of desire’ is the constant enemy of wise men. With the senses, mind, and intellect as its formidable stronghold, desire deludes the jivatman by eclipsing its wisdom.
Desires for sense objects deepen the jivatman’s bondage to the phenomenal world. The Lord, therefore, advises Arjuna first to discipline the senses, and then to destroy desire. (Bhagavad Gita)
Only one or two who are absolutely free from desires would attain their liberation. (Holy Mother Sarada Devi)
No matter how much sadhana you practice, you will not realize the goal as long as you have desire. (Sri Ramakrishna)
But can we truly give up all mundane desires? And how do we give them up?
Scriptures and saints declare that one can get rid of desires by the power of one’s self-effort and the grace of the guru and the Lord.
Holy Mother reassures us, ‘Yes, one can give up desire. That is why one is supposed to practice japa, meditation, and other spiritual practices. The mantra purifies the body. A man becomes pure by repeating the mantra. When a man get rid of desires by discriminating between the real and the unreal, then he does not remain a Jiva anymore. He becomes eligible for liberation. Moreover, one can attain unconditional devotion by God’s will.’
Source – Vedanta Kesari June 2017 Issue