Freedom from desire (lust) and Ego
by Atman Nityananda
Once we are free from desire (lust), all other egoic tendencies will dissolve as well, because they are only extensions of desire.
In fact, all egoic tendencies are modifications of desire itself! Desire and ego are one and the same energy. The lower ego is essentially desire or desiring and modifies into all other egoic tendencies. Greed, for example, is desiring more and more of what we desire—whether it’s for sexual pleasure, money, fame, etc. Lasciviousness or lust is passionate desire for sex pleasure, which is the root of lower desires. Vanity is desiring more and more glory and fame.
The same applies to emotions. Anger, for example, isn’t something different from the ego but only an expression of the ego itself, which is essentially desiring. When a desire is obscured by something, the desirous ego modifies itself into anger.
The entire universe of pain is born of desire. People take whatever pleasure they desire and pay for them in tears.Give up the desire for pleasure and you will not even know what is pain.
~ Nisargadatta
The ‘secret’ to a plentiful life, a life of harmony, happiness and contentment is to have a sattvic mind free from desires and ego and to live in every moment in conscious contact with our true Self (Consciousness).
🌺 Peace, Love, Harmony
atmannityanada 