Desire - Types

Desire in the mind is the real impurity. Desire, attraction, is the greatest impurity. This causes the real bondage. You can even give up wife, children and wealth. But, it is extremely difficult to give up ambition, name and fame. It is a serious obstacle in the path of Yoga. This is the most powerful weapon of delusion with which slaughters worldly-minded persons. Even if there is a tinge of desire for name and fame, Truth will not manifest. Truth will shine by Itself. It does not need any pompous advertisement. It is the very Self of all beings and objects.

Subtle, Hidden Desires

Even after you have renounced all the desires, there may remain in the mind some subtle, hidden desires that cannot be comprehended. These are very dangerous ones. Therefore, you will have to be very, very careful. The lurking under-currents of desires will throw you down at any moment if you are not very vigilant and cautious, will destroy your dispassion and will bring about your downfall eventually. Many aspirants who had fallen from Yoga owing to the overpowering influence of these subtle, hidden desires. So long as you have these subtle, hidden, unnoticeable desires in your mind, you can may not able to enter into the thoughtless state without any modification of the mind.

Craving

You may become old, your hairs may turn gray, but your mind is ever young. The capacity may vanish, but the craving remains even when you have reached advanced senility. Cravings are the real seeds of birth. These craving-seeds give rise to thought and action. The wheel of birth-death is kept revolving by these cravings. Nip them in the bud. Then only will you be safe. You will get Moksha (Liberation). Self-Inquiry, meditation and devotion will root out these craving-seeds which are laid deep. You will have to dig them out properly in various corners and burn them beyond resurrection. Then only will your efforts bear the fruit of eternal peace.

“Love and kill”, “Marry and observe celibacy”, “Enjoyment without desire”,”Action without fruits” are paradoxical terms. A man with gross intellect can hardly understand these terms. A subtle, pure intellect is needed. Suppose you were a terrible smoker for the last fifteen years. Then you gave up smoking for five years. The craving for smoking also died. Suppose one of your friends offers you a cigar in the sixth year. You have no craving for smoking now. If you take it now and enjoy it just to please your friend, it will be called a pure pleasure only. You have enjoyed it without a craving or a desire.

Reference

Mind – Its Mysteries and Control by Sri Swami Sivananda