We all have many desires that remain unfulfilled because we don’t have the necessary resources. For example, we may want to wear the trendiest clothes, drive the fastest cars or own the biggest houses. But we may not be able to afford these – and so we may feel dissatisfied.

We often spend our life slaving to earn enough so that we can fulfill our many desires. Amidst such slaving, one question is rarely asked: will fulfilling our desires make us happy? While our reflexive answer may be obviously yes, deeper thought may give us cause for pause. 

Our desires are countless. And each desire can expand in countless ways. For example, we may desire a grand house. If we succeed in getting one, we may then desire hundreds of accouterments to go with or enhance the house’s grandness. Such desires will keep us endlessly indentured and unfulfilled.  

To prevent such perpetual discontentment, we need to choose which desires to fulfill. Functionally speaking, we do shortlist our desires; however, our shortlist is based not on which desire is most important, but on which desire seems most tempting. And the most tempting desires are rarely, if ever, the most fulfilling. 

Which desire is the most important and most fulfilling? The desire that connects us with our core, thereby filling us with meaning, purpose and joy. 

Gita wisdom explains that we are at our core spiritual beings, parts of the all-attractive whole, Krishna. Whatever we find attractive reflects just a spark of his supreme all-attractiveness (10.41). If we become attracted to him with spiritual love, we gain the supreme fulfillment. 

Focusing on Krishna who is our most important desire is therefore the expressway to happiness. Indeed, those who turn away from external pleasures and turn inward to him attain imperishable happiness (05.21).

 

Think it over:

  • Why will fulfilling desires not lead to fulfillment?
  • How do we shortlist our desires?
  • Why is Krishna our most important desire?

 

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05.21 Such a liberated person is not attracted to material sense pleasure but is always in trance, enjoying the pleasure within. In this way the self-realized person enjoys unlimited happiness, for he concentrates on the Supreme.


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