#spirituality
How can we attain the state of "desirelessness"? asked a friend of mine.

Life is an arduous journey, it's always wise to travel "light". Still, amusingly, I find people overloading themselves with so many desires, possessions.

Well, I have found that the ultimate objective of all the religions is to enable their followers to attain the state of "desirelessness" -- state of perfect bliss. The modus operandi may vary from religion to religion.

Hinduism follows a very unique way to eliminate the endless yearnings so that everlasting tranquility can be achieved.

Our learned sages knew that it's not possible for the ordinary people to decimate all their foolish desires in their very short lifespans.
So they conceived and propagated the idea of "Ishta Devtaa" which means choosing a deity from among the gods, goddesses of Hindu pantheon.

Subsume all your petty desires, have intense longing only for the chosen deity.

A stage will come when your favorite deity becomes your raison d'etre. All your stupid material longings will simply vanish in thin air.

When your whole mind becomes occupied with the thoughts, love for the deity, then something amazing happens.
You will discover that it is absurd to crave for Him.

One craves for things or beings only when one assumes them to be far-off, distinct from oneself.

There is absolutely no need for a golden ring to hanker for gold!

The truth would then be revealed to you that you are an inherent, indispensable part of Him.

With this realization, your desire for Him also drops!

You'll eventually gain eternal serenity.
You'll subsequently declare, impromptuly:

"अहं ब्रह्मास्मि"
("Aham Brahmasmi")

which simply means "I am an indistinguishable part of God. I am God".

~ Sanjay Gargish ~