Desire: The Force Behind All Human Actions
What is Desire and where does it emanate from? Let us pore over. Desire is a state of mind that prompts an individual to do or not to do an act. The emergence of a desire for certain action is to fulfill the need sensed by the same mind. This mind then employs our sense and action organs.
Manusmrti Says:
एकादशेन्द्रियाण्याहुर्यानि पूर्वे मनीषिणः।
तानि सम्यक्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथावदनुपूर्वशः।।
(ch. 2/89)
श्रोत्रं त्वक् चक्षुषी जिह्वा नासिका चैव पञ्चमी।
पायुपस्थं हस्तपादं वाक्चैव दशमी स्मृता।।
(2/90)
बुद्धीन्द्रियाणी पञ्चैषां श्रोत्रादीन्यनुपूर्वशः।
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि पञ्चैषां पाय्वादीनि प्रचक्षते।
(2/91)
The above verses tell us that-
Among the eleven organs existing in every individual the ten are the ears, the skin, the eyes, the tongue, the nose, anus, the organ of generation, hands and feet and the speech.
The first five organs are sense organs(ज्ञानेन्द्रिय) and the rest are the organs of actions that is action organs(कर्मेन्द्रिय). We must always remember that the internal organ namely the mind(मन) is the 11th organ, which by its quality, belongs to both category, namely the organs of sense as well as organs of action. It is superior to both that is sense organs and action organs.
So desire is the cause as well as effect of the interaction of organs of sense and action with their subjects of indulgence.
Let us explain it further by referring to the Great Practice Work Book what I feel the Bhagwadgita is for those who strive for equanimity of mind.
Lord Krishna Says about Him that He is the same Mind(मन) among all organs of senses as well actions.(इन्द्रियानां मनश्चास्मि.)
It signifies that mind creates desire which multiplies incessantly upon being fed unless controlled by intellect (बुद्धि) which is far superior state of mind. In other words, it (बुद्धि) is the rational power of mind which reigns the desire by analysing the consequences of indulgences. The following verses throw light upon the niceties of desire as to how does it arise out of which!
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते।
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते।।
(2/62)
In the above verse Lord Krishna explains to Arjun-His Disciple-in-Distress, that when mind lets the sense organs seek their matter of indulgence our action organs switch into Actions. We end up looking for physical objects, matter or person viewed by the restless mind as a feedstock to the sense organ felt to be in need of feed.
Satiation of desire gives rise to a number other ones making individual caught in the vicious maze of yearning and their fulfilment. He goes thoughtlessly pleasing his senses.This makes the person a self-satisfying machine that ultimately degenerates to a self-destroying one.
All our actions ions are primarily mental actions which are translated into physical ones.
Mental Actions which are sinful may be one or more of the following:
*Coveting Property of others
*Thinking what is undesirable
* Adherence to evil doctrines
Further the above Sinful Mental Actions may either develop to be
** Evil Verbal Actions
Or
** Wicked Bodily Actions
Evil Verbal Actions: these are the following-
(I) Speaking Untruth
(II) Attacking others by Abusive Language
(III) Carrying tales against others
(IV) Talking ill of others
Wicked Bodily Action- these are-
(i) Taking What is Not given
(ii) Injuring living beings
(iii) Illicit Intercourse
From above exposition it is apparent why Manonigrah(मनोनिग्रह) that is Mind Control is so critical for peace of mind. It serves as an insurance against degenation of mind, body and spirit. Manonigrah facilitates the following
A. Control of Mind( मनोदंड)
B. Control over Body( कायदंड)
C. Control of Speech(वाक्दंड)
Our scriptures say that those who have accomplished such control over mind, body and speech are revered as Tridandi (त्रिदंडी).
The Bhagwadgita asserts with reasons not far to seek that this desire born out of pleasing the organs of body is the Enemy-in-Chief. This Desire(कामना)is mammothly voracious and prevails upon a person to the commission Sinful Actions.
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ( 3/43)
Hence, the Lord counsels Arjun that first kill this enemy in order to accomplish equanimity of mind and enjoy True Happiness by performance of only Duty Enjoined Actions(कर्तव्यकर्म) with a sense of detachment.
Manusmrti Says:
एकादशेन्द्रियाण्याहुर्यानि पूर्वे मनीषिणः।
तानि सम्यक्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथावदनुपूर्वशः।।
(ch. 2/89)
श्रोत्रं त्वक् चक्षुषी जिह्वा नासिका चैव पञ्चमी।
पायुपस्थं हस्तपादं वाक्चैव दशमी स्मृता।।
(2/90)
बुद्धीन्द्रियाणी पञ्चैषां श्रोत्रादीन्यनुपूर्वशः।
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि पञ्चैषां पाय्वादीनि प्रचक्षते।
(2/91)
The above verses tell us that-
Among the eleven organs existing in every individual the ten are the ears, the skin, the eyes, the tongue, the nose, anus, the organ of generation, hands and feet and the speech.
The first five organs are sense organs(ज्ञानेन्द्रिय) and the rest are the organs of actions that is action organs(कर्मेन्द्रिय). We must always remember that the internal organ namely the mind(मन) is the 11th organ, which by its quality, belongs to both category, namely the organs of sense as well as organs of action. It is superior to both that is sense organs and action organs.
So desire is the cause as well as effect of the interaction of organs of sense and action with their subjects of indulgence.
Let us explain it further by referring to the Great Practice Work Book what I feel the Bhagwadgita is for those who strive for equanimity of mind.
Lord Krishna Says about Him that He is the same Mind(मन) among all organs of senses as well actions.(इन्द्रियानां मनश्चास्मि.)
It signifies that mind creates desire which multiplies incessantly upon being fed unless controlled by intellect (बुद्धि) which is far superior state of mind. In other words, it (बुद्धि) is the rational power of mind which reigns the desire by analysing the consequences of indulgences. The following verses throw light upon the niceties of desire as to how does it arise out of which!
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते।
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते।।
(2/62)
In the above verse Lord Krishna explains to Arjun-His Disciple-in-Distress, that when mind lets the sense organs seek their matter of indulgence our action organs switch into Actions. We end up looking for physical objects, matter or person viewed by the restless mind as a feedstock to the sense organ felt to be in need of feed.
Satiation of desire gives rise to a number other ones making individual caught in the vicious maze of yearning and their fulfilment. He goes thoughtlessly pleasing his senses.This makes the person a self-satisfying machine that ultimately degenerates to a self-destroying one.
All our actions ions are primarily mental actions which are translated into physical ones.
Mental Actions which are sinful may be one or more of the following:
*Coveting Property of others
*Thinking what is undesirable
* Adherence to evil doctrines
Further the above Sinful Mental Actions may either develop to be
** Evil Verbal Actions
Or
** Wicked Bodily Actions
Evil Verbal Actions: these are the following-
(I) Speaking Untruth
(II) Attacking others by Abusive Language
(III) Carrying tales against others
(IV) Talking ill of others
Wicked Bodily Action- these are-
(i) Taking What is Not given
(ii) Injuring living beings
(iii) Illicit Intercourse
From above exposition it is apparent why Manonigrah(मनोनिग्रह) that is Mind Control is so critical for peace of mind. It serves as an insurance against degenation of mind, body and spirit. Manonigrah facilitates the following
A. Control of Mind( मनोदंड)
B. Control over Body( कायदंड)
C. Control of Speech(वाक्दंड)
Our scriptures say that those who have accomplished such control over mind, body and speech are revered as Tridandi (त्रिदंडी).
The Bhagwadgita asserts with reasons not far to seek that this desire born out of pleasing the organs of body is the Enemy-in-Chief. This Desire(कामना)is mammothly voracious and prevails upon a person to the commission Sinful Actions.
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ( 3/43)
Hence, the Lord counsels Arjun that first kill this enemy in order to accomplish equanimity of mind and enjoy True Happiness by performance of only Duty Enjoined Actions(कर्तव्यकर्म) with a sense of detachment.
R.R.Prabhakar.
25.05.2019.
25.05.2019.
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