Desire...there's no end to it!

Desire...there's no end to it. It's the enchanting mirage that allures each and all throughout life. Mystics call it a web and philosophers an illusion but we all run after it.

It's the multi faceted character that both makes it "desirable" and distasteful. Desire has motivated countless to work, exert and achieve. It has also ruined, hurt and destroyed in no less magnitudes.

Desire in itself is neither good nor bad. It's a feeling and like any other feeling, can be the spring board for action. The uniqueness of desire lies in its never ending and constantly altering form. People spend a lifetime pursuing a desire but the minute they achieve the goal, instead of dying, desire finds a new life and a new object to be pursued.

Perhaps the most common desire since beginning has been to know the future because future can tell the outcome of desires. People do strange things in order to fulfill this desire. They throw coins in water fountains, blow candles, find gypsies and/or fortune tellers. They blow on dandelions and put faith in the drifting petals. They  look for rainbows, count clover leaves and even break bones......! Do these things work? Who knows! Perhaps they do, perhaps not.

Religion often forbids such practices, calling it superstition. Religion preaches acceptance and acceptance is a difficult thing, especially when things don't make sense. Human mind understands the link between effort and result hence a certain outcome is expected when attempts are made and energies are spent. Questions arise when the outcome does not match the input which is very often. We do know that despite everything, things might go wrong or not work out accordingly due to extraneous factors. In the absence of religion, we try to define and control those extraneous factors. This desire to control leads to an endless pursuit. It's addicting like gambling. Ask anyone who has believed in superstition and they can tell you how hard it is to get rid of that belief or superstition.

Religion teaches acceptance. Acceptance, once truly achieved, brings peace and closure. It doesn't mean not to pursue lawful desires or exert efforts. It means to settle down with the undesired or unexpected outcome even when everything was done accordingly. It tells of letting go and have faith that not all scores are settled immediately or right here and certainly not by us. There is a higher Authority that's keeping record and will render the just verdict according to each and every intention and effort.

Once one believes in that High Power and have faith that Almighty knows all and will justify all, then there is no room left for psychics or horoscope readings. Coins and more is given to the needy rather than thrown in the fountains. Peace prevails instead of heartburn and humility replaces frustrations.