Nigeria and the Lesson of Desire

There, the Boko Haram militants desire power, to be feared, and the suppression of women; the president desires to avoid embarrassment and stay in office, even blaming God for the problems of his country and the abduction; his wife desires deferential respect to the point of imprisoning mediators whom she felt did not give it to her; the international community desires that something is done, but is not sure what. The parents of the missing girls, of course, desire the safe return of their daughters, one of the few examples of unconditional love there is in this cruel situation. [caption id="attachment_2559" align="alignright" width="250"] Desire[/caption] You understand the folly of desire, wanting something, craving something to appease a momentary longing created, perhaps, for status, self-worth, appearance, and achievement. Often it is material, but not always, for the desire for spiritual growth can be just as pernicious, an inhibition from being in a true state of grace just as much as desiring the latest electronic gadget. Any spiritual practice that is undertaken in order to find peace of mind, or to have a numinous experience, or to accelerate the process of ascension, is based on desire, not reality, and it is only when desire is dropped that change may happen. It is when you are in a state of no-desire that spiritual bliss occurs, that place of being in your truth and aware of the love of God everywhere around and within you, that state of perfection for which you may have strived for so long, but which can only be yours when the striving ceases. So, meditate without desire for an outcome, live in awareness and acceptance, do not desire to be in non-desire, and one day the desire will fall away. Remember, as Oshi said, no Buddha can give you his eyes.   [byline]  ]]>