The Seed of Desire

Inside of us are seeds of desire. Perhaps you desire wealth, prominence, recognition or simply peace of mind.
Yet for most of us these thoughts come and go as quickly as the millions of sensual experiences bombarding our body each day. If we don’t take a few moments reflection then much of our thought is deleted from our existence.
It is the same with desire.
A desire comes, we leave it to be choked out by the weeds of anxiety, to be left un watered, withering and dead on the hard busy road of an unreflective soul, or perhaps our desire is stolen away by the critical censure of a discouraging neighbor as a crow steals unattended food.
If the seed is to grow it must be cultivated, the soil prepared, the ground nourished and the seed watered. For our desires to grow our heart must be prepared. For every desire is a reflection of a greater desire that is truly us. Of course, we need to take care of the responsibilities of life, We cannot neglect the kids simply because we want peace of mind.
Searching within takes time, introspection cannot be rushed, it cannot set to someone else’s timetable. Rather we must take the time to reflect on our experience and contemplate the reality of our own experience.
There is no test or pass grade, only the realization of our own experiences.
The mind on the other hand loves questions and wants us to rush, to grab at the first suitable answer and move on. The heart is experiential and desires certainty. Hence the process of opening up to our inner truth should be progressive, reflective, regular, in fact daily. We must build on our own internal experiences discovering the beautiful garden within.
Just as a person must kn9ow how to count before they understand algebra, or understand algebra before they understand calculus, we must build our understanding until suddenly the new language of numbers opens up to us a new landscape of understanding. That which we once could not see suddenly becomes our reality as we understand.
We must learn to listen to the heart, to again feel. This is not a struggle or the concentrated isolation of monasticism, for it is a journey and we are meant to enjoy the ride. We move forward when the heart is ready and when it feels right. Enlightenment is ajourney and not some far off goal. It is an experience. It is when our experience coalesces into a simplicity that allows our heart to holistically know.
The heart does not want to think …. Yes but, if this is true, then ….? No, the heart wants certainty. It is based on experiential knowing of your own fundamental desire.
That desire must be quenched like a parching thirst in the desert, we must discover and feel the joy, love and happiness within.
What am I feeling? Am I truly intouch with my true inner feelings? Or do I allow distractions and the latest idea to take hold of my mind and trick me into thinking I desire something that an advertiser wants sold?
I once heard a story of a young boy and his school friends been invited to grandpa’s farm. Sunday morning, Grandpa offers them the produce of his far, with cream and ice-cream.
“do you like them?” asked the proud farmer.
“O yes” replied the boys, “what are they?”
“Strawberries.”
“There not strawberries!” retorted the boys “They don’t taste like a strawberry thick shake at McDonalds!”
For here is the proble3m. We often expect our experiences to match preconceived notions. The boys had an idea what strawberries should taste like. To enjoy the fruit properly they need to let go of their preconceptions. We need to observe what we experience and not allow it to be tainted by social and family expectations. We must let go of the story, the description, the label, because if we have assumptions of what happiness is we may dismiss it when we have it put in front of our face.
We must learn to again trust our feelings.
Sooner or later every one of our little constructions will be washed away by the reality of time. Time stops for no man and as we sit at the end of our life what will be left but my feelings. Will they be feelings of joy? Will I have followed my heart or will I look back and find I have followed someone else’s script.
Everyone wants to tell you what to do, who to be, what must be done. Will I listen to my heart or to others? Will I embrace the fundamental thirst for every breath. Will I take hold of this opportunity called life and feel deep inner joy? This life should mean something and we need a way to access the heart to experience its meaning. We need to experience the self, the life that until we opened our heart we never knew existed.
When we come in touch with the me that is within, and love that me unconditionally then we can live in the heaven within.
It is not dependent on external, conditional, acceptance or on the hope of a future world. Rather, the process of experiencing our inner world offers to us a joy that can be had regardless of our circumstances.
True joy, peace, fulfillment and success come from within, a deep inner satisfaction.
Most believe that there are certain requirements to be met if our life is to be satisfied. Needs must be met. Desires sustained. Yes we must fulfil our responsibilities and enjoy the friuit of our labour. But what if all you have attained was suddenly taken from you? our purpose is fulfilled then within we have lost nothing.
This requires a lot of self understanding and relearning of our heart. It does not take a lot of time, although the unfolding of the heart is not to be rushed. It doe not require special circumstances, although we need to progressively open up our heart. Slowly the scene will open to us and suddenly the light bulb will light up.
Circumstances in life may change, and the definition of external success will change. Will we experience the deep inner unchangeable joy of our heart or be ever chasing the culturally conditioned messages of advertisers?
If our happiness is dependent on external elements then if those things change, and they will, then whar will happen to our happiness? If our happiness is built on the true foundation of a revealed heart then its foundation is sure. If not then we will come to the end of our life and ask “is this all there is?” Will we be left unsatisfied desiring more?
We can only eat so much cake. The first peace is great, the second nice but if we keep going we end up sick.
The joy of the heart is not like that. For true joy can be had again and again. The more joy we have the better it gets.
The mind wants to play tricks with us. It is curious and quickly wants to get an answer and search no further.
The heart wants to experience peace and bit by bit, step by step, as we learn to listen to it, it will open to us a beautiful garden within that is unique to each of us and which no one else can share.
In this search the seed of desire will flourish, cultivated and watered by our own reflection, the seed of desire will grow.