Kill Desire
Kill Desire
by Swami Sivananda
Arjuna said: “But, dragged on by what does a man commit sin, reluctantly indeed, O Varshneya, as it were, by force constrained?” The Blessed Lord said: “It is desire, it is wrath, begotten by the quality of mobility, all-consuming and all-polluting-know thou this as our foe here on earth. As a flame is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as an embryo is wrapped by the amnion, so this is enveloped by it. Enveloped is divine wisdom by this constant enemy of the wise in the form of desire, which is insatiable as a flame. The senses, the mind and the reason are said to be its seat; by these, enveloping wisdom, it bewilders the dweller in the body. Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, mastering first the senses, do thou slay this thing of sin, destructive of wisdom and knowledge. It is said that the senses are great; greater than the senses is the mind; greater than the mind is reason; but that which is greater than reason, is He. Thus understanding Him as greater than reason, restraining the self by the Self, slay thou, O mighty-armed, the enemy in the form of desire, difficult to overcome.” Ch. III-36-43.
Desires can never be satiated or cooled down by the enjoyment of objects. But as fire blazes forth the more when fed with butter and wood, so it grows the more when it feeds on objects of enjoyment.
If all the foods of the earth, all the precious metals, all animals, and all beautiful women were to pass into the possession of a man deluded by desire, they would fail to give him satisfaction.
Raja Yayati said: “O son, I have enjoyed with your youth to the full extent of my desires and to the full limit of my powers and according to their seasons-but desires never die. They are never satiated by indulgence. By indulgence they flame up like sacrificial fire with ghee poured into it. If one becomes the sole Lord of all the earth with its paddy, oats, gems, beasts and women, still it will not be considered by him enough. Therefore the thirst for enjoyment should be abandoned. The thirst for enjoyment which is difficult to be cast off by the wicked, which does not fail even with the failing of life, is truly a fatal disease in man. To get rid of this thirst is real happiness.”
Understand that desire that is born of the quality of Rajas is man’s enemy in this Samsara. The real enemy of the whole world is desire. It is from this desire that all the evils and miseries come to human beings. When desire manifests, it goads man to action and so he commits sins of various sorts. When a man’s desire is not gratified, when one stands in the way of its fulfilment, he becomes angry. The desire gets transmuted into anger. When one is under the sway of anger, he will commit all sorts of sins. He loses his memory, intellect and understanding. An angry man commits murder. He himself does not know what he is exactly doing. He becomes very emotional and impulsive. All evil actions and evil qualities proceed from anger.
When desire gets hold of a man, it hides the knowledge of his true nature from him. Desire enshrouds wisdom, just as smoke enshrouds fire. He becomes egoistic. He gets deluded. He becomes a slave of passion and gets miseries of all sorts.
The Indriyas or senses bring the man in contact with external objects and the desires are thereby created. But the senses are not all-in-all. If the mind co-operates with the Indriyas, then only is mischief wrought. Mind is more powerful than the Indriyas. Mind is the commander. Reason is more powerful than the mind. Even if the mind brings a message into the mental factory by its association with the Indriyas, the pure reason can reject it altogether. Reason is more powerful than the mind. Behind reason is the Self who is the director and witness of reason and who is superior to reason. Desire is of a highly complex and incomprehensible nature. Therefore, it is very difficult to be eradicated or conquered. But with the help of pure reason all desires can be eventually destroyed. There is no doubt of this. Then you will get knowledge of the Atman which brings immortality, supreme peace and eternal bliss
Kill Desire – Self-Control, Inner Peace, and Freedom from Craving
Kill Desire is a strong spiritual idea, but it does not mean destroying all wishes or becoming lifeless. Desire is a natural part of human life. A person may desire food, knowledge, love, success, comfort, respect, or freedom. Some desires are useful because they give direction and energy. The real problem begins when desire becomes craving, attachment, greed, or blind dependency. Then the mind loses peace and becomes a servant of its own wants.
To understand this subject properly, we must first know the difference between need and craving. Need is natural and limited. Craving is restless and endless. Need supports life, but craving controls life. A person needs food, but craving demands taste again and again. A person needs money for living, but greed wants more without satisfaction. A person needs love, but attachment wants control over others. This is why spiritual teachings ask us to examine desire carefully.
Kill Desire means removing the slavery created by uncontrolled wanting. It does not mean refusing duty, progress, or healthy goals. A student may still study, a worker may still earn, and a seeker may still practice. The difference is that actions should be guided by wisdom, not by restless craving. When desire becomes purified, it turns into purpose, service, discipline, and devotion.
Desire grows through imagination. The mind keeps thinking about an object, person, pleasure, or result. The more it thinks, the stronger the attraction becomes. Slowly, attraction becomes attachment. When attachment is disturbed, anger, jealousy, fear, and sorrow arise. This is why controlling thought is the first step toward controlling desire. If the mind is protected, desire loses much of its force.
Kill Desire also teaches the value of contentment. Contentment does not mean laziness or lack of ambition. It means being grateful for what is available while working honestly for what is necessary. A content person can act with full effort but does not become broken when results are delayed. Such a person enjoys inner freedom because happiness is not completely dependent on outside objects.
The senses are powerful channels of desire. The eyes want attractive forms, the tongue wants taste, the ears want praise, and the mind wants pleasure. If the senses are allowed to run without discipline, they keep pulling the person outward. A wise person does not hate the senses but trains them. Moderation in food, clean entertainment, careful speech, and good company help reduce unnecessary desire.
Kill Desire is closely connected with self-knowledge. Most desires come from the belief that something outside will complete us. The mind says, “If I get this, I will be happy.” But after getting one thing, another want appears. This endless chain shows that external objects cannot give permanent satisfaction. True peace comes when a person begins to discover inner completeness.
In daily life, desire can be reduced through simple practices. One should pause before acting on a strong want. Ask whether it is useful, pure, necessary, and harmless. If the desire is only temporary excitement, let time pass. Many desires become weak when they are not immediately fed. Patience is a powerful tool for inner control.
Kill Desire also requires replacing lower desires with higher ones. The mind cannot remain empty. If harmful cravings are removed, they should be replaced with noble interests such as study, service, prayer, meditation, creativity, exercise, and meaningful work. When life becomes purposeful, cheap attractions lose their charm. Higher joy naturally reduces lower temptation.
Spiritual practice plays an important role in this path. Meditation helps us observe desires without obeying them blindly. Prayer brings humility and surrender. Self-study gives clarity. Service reduces selfishness. Truthful living strengthens conscience. Slowly, the mind becomes less demanding and more peaceful. This is not a sudden change but a gradual purification.
Kill Desire does not mean suppressing emotions in an unhealthy way. Suppression hides desire, but wisdom transforms it. If desire is forced down without understanding, it may return stronger later. Real freedom comes when we see the nature of desire clearly. We understand its beginning, its promise, its trap, and its result. Then the mind naturally becomes detached.
A person who has control over desire becomes strong. They are not easily tempted, manipulated, or disturbed. Praise does not make them proud, and loss does not completely break them. They can enjoy life without becoming addicted to enjoyment. They can work hard without becoming a slave to results. This is real maturity.
In the end, Kill Desire is a call to rise above craving, attachment, and inner weakness. It teaches that freedom is not found in fulfilling every want, but in mastering the mind that keeps wanting. When desire is purified, life becomes simple, peaceful, and meaningful. A person then acts with wisdom, loves with purity, works with responsibility, and lives with inner strength.
