1. Arishadvargas : Desires (???? kāma)

We all are experts in talking about Arishadvargas. They are Kaama (Lust), Krodha(Anger), Lobha(Greed), Moha (Attachment ), Madha (EGO) & Maathsarya (Jealousy). It is said in Puranas that, a person who has won all these, is one who is pure from mind & heart.? But it is equally difficult to win over any one of it.

Let us see one by one how they occupy our life and which are all the direction it takes. Every thing is an illusion (Maya) which gives false perception or directions about life. When they are occupied, we feed sweet for moments but when Truth comes out or when we face the reality attached to them, we suffer. Each sweetness looks like turning into bitterness.

A person with wisdom will always be conscious and be aware & beware of Arishadvargas. Let us see how the maya of Desire works in life.

All actions are prompted by desires. Desires comes from a sense of unfulfillment. Even though the sense of unfulfilment is common, the desires can get into positive or negative attributes which can also be lustful characters depending on what we feel will give us fulfilment.

Desire to serve others, improve oneself, do good actions, gain knowledge, reach God, search for Truth, be with nature and alleviate others' sorrow are positive. They add beauty to a person.? Actions prompted by such desires pave the way for inner enfoldment and? joy.? They are compared to smoke that adds beauty to the fire.

Desire for name, fame, wealth, status, power or pleasure are good until they drive to some extent, when they grow more and converts into lust , they become negative. The desire to assert, dominate, possess, change others or humble are some of the other attributes of desire. These cause a lot of stress, strain, restlessness, craving and the drive for competition. They are compared to the dust that covers a mirror, which prevents us from seeing ourselves as we are. The 'duster' of right attitude and efforts are needed to remove ego-prompted ?desires. These negative desires do not allow positive desires to bloom within us.

Desire for inaction, enjoyment without effort, the need to be served and the drive to terrorise or harm others are negative attributes. These make man inactive or criminal-minded. They are compared to the foetus in a womb . It takes a lot of effort, time and pain to get rid of our desire or reduce the desires turning into lust. ?For instance, a person has to go through a hellish time to come out of alcoholism, drug addiction or a record of crime.

One cannot live without desire as it is not required too. But, one can always have positive desires which gives progress to life, which gets on to peaceful walk, which takes long way in sharpening the life style and gets into balanced life. One need to reject negative desires and indulge into positive desires to make the life blossom.

• Have a great life with peace and smile !
• ~~N Roopika
• ~~(Mindfuel)