DON'T BE A SLAVE TO YOUR DESIRES

DON’T BE A SLAVE TO YOUR DESIRES Master Yourself DESIRES are integral to human nature. All men and women have a strong inclination towards fulfilling their desires and this is their greatest weakness. Pointing out the gravity of this failing, the chapter Al Jathiyah (Kneeling) of the Quran admonishes us on this weakness in alarming terms: Consider the one who has taken his own desire as a deity, whom God allows to stray in the face of knowledge, sealing his ears and heart and covering his eyes—who can guide such a person after God (has abandoned him)? Will you not take heed? (45: 23). Desire is an essential part of one’s personality. But it is like grease to an engine and not like the driver of that engine. Desire can serve as a motivating force, but mindless yielding to desire will be disastrous. To succeed, try to steer your life in a rational manner. Don’t give in to your desires. Remember that where desire is blind, reason has the capacity to discern the true nature of things. It is said that man is a slave to desire. But this saying expresses only half the truth. The human mind is full of desires but at the same time, it also has the capacity for logical thought. When your mind is overwhelmed by desire, examine that desire in the light of reality. Assess it for its potential returns, and objectively evaluate the feasibility and consequences of fulfilling it. Judge by all the possible effects it can have whether good or bad. If you are satisfied that its results will be beneficial, go ahead with fulfilling your desire—but with great care and planning. Don’t run after your desires. While following your desires, check, re-check and re-evaluate them as you go along. It is important to turn back if you find that you have taken a wrong step. Stop before reaching the point of no return. There are different kinds of desires, some of which are improper too. You have to distance yourself from desires of this kind. Always keep in mind that every desire must remain within certain boundaries. Even good desires have their limits. Where desire is blind, reason has the capacity to discern the true nature of things.