Worldly Desires Versus Desire for God

Hislop: One very strong tendency is in the tongue, the problem of taste, which gives rise to craving for more. How do we overcome that?

Sai: The body is like a boil. Water is for cleansing the wound. Food is the medicine. Clothing is the bandage. Consid-ering the body so, reduces the strength of taste. But what is taken in by seeing, hearing, and talking is the more important food. Gross food for the body is like digging a well. Whereas pure and subtle impressions taken in by the other senses is like building a wall high into the heavens. It is building of the wall high that should have the major emphasis.

Hislop: Swami says that when the senses leave their place and mix with worldly objects, pain and pleasure are produced. What is the proper place of the senses?

Sai: It is all the play of desire. Desire for worldly objects produces pleasure and pain, whereas desire for God confers bliss and does not produce pain.

Hislop: But Swami, most of our actions arise from worldly desires. We see, hear, think, feel, and smell. Then there is some desire and that leads to action.

Sai: God works through you as desire.

Hislop: Swami! Does God prompt even the bad desire?

Sai: There is the strong thrust of life force, the desire to live. If it goes into action in a favorable field, it becomes love; otherwise, it remains as desire. If desire is expressed in a favorable field, it is expressed as love. Then knowledge arises; then bliss. The force, the strength, the energy, the motivation in desire is God. Whether the desire is good or bad is related to time, place, and person. In early years, a desire for worldly achievement might be good. In later years, the same desire might be bad. Fruit that is good one day may be rotten several days later. One side of an apple may become good, the other side rotten. Discrimination says eat the good side and discard the bad. There is another force in you through which God works, and that is discrimination. That force must be used to put aside wrong action. The power of discrimination knows what is right and what is wrong. The wrong desire is God overshadowed by maya [illusion], whereas discrimination is God less overshadowed by maya.

Hislop: Swami! This really explains the whole problem of good and evil.

Sai: Yes. The story of Valmiki is an illustration. He was a ruthless killer and robber without any doubt about his actions. He, at one time, listened to the five sages, and started repeating ‘Rama.’ The same strength and force that made him a terrible criminal was turned to Godly desire and action, and he gained God-realization. As Valmiki gained speed in repeating the name ‘Rama,’ it became jumbled up with ‘Ma’ and ‘Mara.’ In this he lost body sense and transcended the senses. Losing body sense should be like that, natural and not forced.

Source: Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Worldly Desires Versus Desire for God

In every stage of life, human beings are constantly pulled between temporary pleasures and eternal peace. Worldly Desires Versus Desire for God is a timeless inner struggle that decides the direction of one’s thoughts, actions, and spiritual growth. Material desires often appear attractive because they promise comfort, status, wealth, and recognition. However, these pleasures are temporary and leave the mind restless after some time. On the other hand, the desire for the Divine brings inner fulfillment, contentment, and everlasting joy. Understanding Worldly Desires Versus Desire for God helps seekers recognize the difference between fleeting happiness and spiritual truth.

The modern world encourages endless wants. People continuously chase possessions, success, fame, and sensory pleasures, believing they will achieve complete happiness. Yet the more desires increase, the more dissatisfaction enters life. This is why saints and spiritual teachers have always reminded humanity that attachment to worldly things can never fully satisfy the soul. Devotional India has preserved this wisdom for centuries through sacred scriptures, bhajans, temples, and spiritual traditions that guide people toward a higher purpose.

The meaning of Worldly Desires Versus Desire for God becomes clear when one observes the nature of both paths. Worldly desires depend on external conditions, while divine longing arises from the heart. External achievements may disappear with time, but spiritual awareness continues to grow and uplift the individual. A person who seeks God develops compassion, patience, humility, and peace. Such qualities create harmony within and spread positivity to others as well.

Many saints from Devotional India taught that desires themselves are not the real problem; attachment and obsession are the causes of suffering. When the mind becomes controlled by greed, anger, jealousy, and ego, life loses balance. But when the same mind turns toward prayer, service, meditation, and devotion, it becomes pure and peaceful. The teachings found across Devotional India inspire millions to reduce selfish desires and cultivate divine love in daily life.

The battle of Worldly Desires Versus Desire for God is experienced by everyone. Some people become trapped in competition and comparison, constantly worrying about what others possess. This creates anxiety and emptiness. In contrast, a spiritually focused person learns gratitude and surrender. Such a person understands that true joy comes not from accumulation but from inner connection with the Divine Presence. Spiritual seekers slowly discover that the heart feels lighter when desires decrease and devotion increases.

Another important lesson in Worldly Desires Versus Desire for God is the value of self-discipline. Spiritual life does not mean rejecting the world completely; it means living with awareness and balance. One can perform duties, earn honestly, care for family, and still remain connected to God through faith and remembrance. This balanced approach has been beautifully demonstrated by saints and devotees throughout Devotional India, whose lives continue to inspire generations.

Ultimately, Worldly Desires Versus Desire for God teaches that worldly achievements alone cannot provide permanent satisfaction. The soul longs for something beyond material success. When devotion becomes stronger than selfish desire, life gains clarity and purpose. The heart becomes calm, relationships improve, and every action becomes meaningful. By choosing spiritual wisdom over endless craving, human beings move closer to truth, peace, and divine bliss.

-Traits of Character to Be Avoided