Understanding

Ceiling of Desires
Prakash Chittaranjan
What is a Desire
Sathya Sai Baba Says
Desire is defined as, a Men do not realise that as
longing or craving, as their desires increase, their
for something that happiness diminishes.

brings satisfaction or There is no limit to desires.

They multiply like ants in
enjoyment. an anthill. There is no
sense of satisfaction,
however much one may
possess or enjoy.
Desires tend to mislead
us into believing that Desires are like luggage
which is a heavy burden in
a) They will disappear if the journey of life. Less
once fulfilled luggage more comfort
b) Satisfaction can be makes travel a pleasure.
Therefore, gradually
gained only through reduce your desires.
their fulfillment
Desires are Endless - Reduction of
desires leads to the cultivation of
Need Vs Want
Need- something you MUST have
A roof over your head
Enough food and water to maintain your health
Basic health care and hygiene products
Clothing (just what you need to remain comfortable and
appropriately dressed)
Want -something you would LIKE to have (beyond
basic needs)
Everything that goes beyond this a big house, branded
clothes, fancy foods and drinks, a second car is a want.
Just inquire, does someone else deserve this
need before my wants has to be fulfilled.
Does that mean that you should only buy the things
Understand, there is a Joy in Sharing !!
that you need?
Not at all. Life is meant to be lived, not survived.
Treat yourself to some wants along the way, but do
so when you can afford to, and enjoy those only
after sharing a part of it with others (Needy ones).
What is Ceiling on Desires?

It is a tool to help limit

or reduce desires by
placing limits on the
usage of four key
resources of Human
beings:
1. Food,
2. Money,
3. Energy, and
4. Time.

Na Karmana Na Prajaya, Danena Tyagai

Naeke Amrutatwa Manashahu: Only through
sacrifice, can one attain Bliss.
Techniques for Practicing
COD
Food
Eat in moderation by avoiding taking more than you can
eat on your plate
Offer food to God before you eat. Do not waste the food
offered
Time
Constantly inquire whether the activity you are engaged
in is the best use of your time
Money
Consider ways to conserve money, e.g. preparing a
home-made lunch instead of eating out
Open a piggy bank with saved funds to regularly give to
the needy (in some form)
Energy
Avoid unnecessary talk. Swami says, Unnecessary
talk should be avoided as this results in waste of
energy and reduction of memory power.
Practice silence

6
W
hy The Three Important Questions of
Pr Life !!!
Who am I
ac What is the Purpose of my Life
tic Have I shared enough of what I am blessed
with
e
CO Become Aware. We are ONE !!
D Man is a microcosm of the Universe. We
are a part of the whole, called the
? All differences in this world are of degree, and
Universe, a part limited in time and space
not of kind, because oneness is the secret of
everything.
Understanding Oneness
Oneness as the concept means
discarding all ideas of separation
from anything and anyone.
One way might be to think of our fingers, legs,
arms, toes, and eyes: We dont think of them as
separate entities from our total being. We dont
refer to our fingers as being separate from
ourselves. Even though they have their unique
qualities and character, theyre part of the
oneness we refer to as ourselves. So it is with our
relationship to Source or God before we came
into this worldin that world, we and God were
Understanding
one.
Oneness manifests
qualities of Sharing and Caring in
us.
Purusharthas - Four Goals of
Human Life
Dharma (Right Conduct)
Obedience to Religious and Moral
Life
Artha (Wealth)
Pursuit of Economic well being and
Honest Prosperity
Kama (Desires)
Enjoyment of Social and Physical
pleasures
Moksha(Salvation of the Soul)
It is only achieved through taking
the refuge in God and His Name
Proper balance of Dharma, Atha
and Kama would help an
individual attain Moksha.
 People are deluded by unlimited
desires. They live in a dream Food for Thought
world, forgetting the Supreme
Consciousness. It is very important
to keep desires under control and
place a ceiling on them. Instead of
inordinately spending for our own
pleasure, we should offer money
for the relief of the poor and
needy. Do not make the
mistake of thinking that giving
away your money for good and
noble purposes is all that is
needed to practice ceiling on
desires. While giving to the
needy is good, it is equally
important that you do not
allow your own desires to
continue to multiply; both
should happen. You must curtail
your desires, as materialistic
desires lead to a restless and
disastrous life. Desires are a
prison. You can be freed only by
 consumption of food, and
check on waste of energy.
You need some essential
commodities for sustenance,
and you should not aspire for
more. Only if air is available in
sufficient quantity will it be
comfortable. If it is excessive
and there is a gale, you will feel
uncomfortable. When you are
thirsty, you can consume only a
limited quantity of water
needed for the sustenance of
the body; you cant drink the
entire water of the River Ganga.
Your eyes automatically close
when they happen to see a
Thank You flash of lightning because they
cant withstand such high

For your illumination. Therefore there

must be a limit to
everything, including
Kind desires. - Divine Discourse, Jan
19, 1983.
Attention 11