Q : Swamiji , what does it mean to be free from attachment and worldly desires ?
A : There are two types of desires . One is binding desire and the other is non-binding desire . Binding desires are desires whereby having fulfilled them , they come back again in another form . Non-binding desires are desires that help you to grow out of your sense of limitation .
For example , one
person requests a brand new mobile phone to appear trendy and stylish .
Another person requests a scientific calculator for his exam .
Eventually , the person who bought the mobile phone will continue to
desire to for a better model every time it is available . He does not
want to be looked as outdated . The desire to get a mobile phone , here ,
is a binding desire . Whereas , the person who bought the scientific
calculator uses it to pass his exam and further his studies . The
scientific calculator did not make him spend more money to buy anything
else nor did it disturb in other aspects of his life . So , the desire
to get a scientific calculator , in this case , is a non-binding desire .
Freedom from attachment and worldly desires means to grow out of the binding desires that one has . Desire is an embellishment . We need not give up desires but at the same time , do not allow the desires to overpower you . Do not fall into the spell cast by the desires , instead learn to manage them . By learning to manage your desires , you can become a successful person . A good example will be the body-chariot analogy .
The chariot is your body , the horses pulling the chariot are your sensory organs / senses , the charioteer is the intellect (buddhi) and the reign used by the charioteer to whip the horses to move them is your mind . When you are driving , if you allow the mind (reign) to be distracted in unnecessary ways , then your senses (horses) will go haywire and the charioteer (you) will not reach your destination . If you can control your mind , then your senses will be in control and you will reach your destination .
Freedom from attachment and worldly desires means to grow out of the binding desires that one has . Desire is an embellishment . We need not give up desires but at the same time , do not allow the desires to overpower you . Do not fall into the spell cast by the desires , instead learn to manage them . By learning to manage your desires , you can become a successful person . A good example will be the body-chariot analogy .
The chariot is your body , the horses pulling the chariot are your sensory organs / senses , the charioteer is the intellect (buddhi) and the reign used by the charioteer to whip the horses to move them is your mind . When you are driving , if you allow the mind (reign) to be distracted in unnecessary ways , then your senses (horses) will go haywire and the charioteer (you) will not reach your destination . If you can control your mind , then your senses will be in control and you will reach your destination .
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