काममय एवायं पुरुष इति।
स यथाकामो भवति तत्क्रतुर्भवति।
यत्क्रतुर्भवति तत्कर्म कुरुते।
यत्कर्म कुरुते तदभिसंपद्यते॥
You are what your deep driving desire is
As your desire is, so is your will
As your will is, so is your deed
As your deed is, so is your destiny.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5
This Shloka from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is beautiful in it’s simplicity. It explains in simple terms how our desires make our lives. Many people like to blame external factors for everything in their lives. But this shloka tells us that it is our deep desires that drive us and make us what we are. There is no one else to blame. Circumstances and situations will always be external and changing, how we respond to them depends on our desires. And our responses will either tie us down in this world or will let us be free and enjoy this world.
This view or thought that we are free individual beings who have control over our lives is very disconcerting for many people. Many people like to think that everything is pre-ordained and the individual can do nothing. But the sages who articulated the Upanishads, knew otherwise and thus gave this verse for the seekers in the future.
So how does one know what is their deep driving desire? Is it even possible to know in today’s world?
The answer is Yes. It is possible and is being done by many people.
Meditation is the key. As you start meditating, you start centering yourself. This centering leads to an expanded awareness and greater consciousness. This increases the individual’s realisation of themselves. This realisation is like a mirror, it shows you what your desires are. This awareness helps you drop more than half of your so called desires as they are not what you want. They have seeped into your unconscious self either due to conditioning or reaction or association with others. Once you start dropping these unnecessary desires, you automatically become lighter in your thoughts and actions. And this in turn, makes you free from unnecessary actions. A positive self reinforcing loop.
Start your meditation journey today. It is never too late or too early. Life was meant to be lived.