All of us want a little more happiness than what we have at present. Therefore, we do Karma (action to get our desires satisfied) in the hope that the result of this Karma gives us more happiness. But our Karma rarely gives us what we want. We are limited beings – because of our limitations, we always want “more” of everything to compensate for these assumed limitations.
Man’s “wants” begin the very instant he comes into this world – when he wants milk and starts yelling for it. Beginning thus, his “wants” drive him all through his life. This “I want” is a fundamental “want”. All of us are constantly driven by this engine called, “I want”.
Man always “wants” – something or the other. In general, man always wants things that he does not already possess; things that he already has, have no more attraction for him. But there are exceptions to this rule. Some wealthy persons, especially, those who have become rich newly, for instance, are never satisfied with what they have; they always want more of the same, no matter how wealthy they already may be. When they get more, they want some more. There is never any end to their wanting.
This “I want” is a big problem in every life; in fact, it is the biggest problem; it is what is responsible for all Man’s misery. He feels miserable most of the time because he cannot get his “wants” satisfied most of the time. This is the reality of living – and Vedaanta, which is discussed in the Upanishads, deals with the reality of living.
Vedaanta teaches you how to gain the freedom from this “I want”; it teaches you not to lament over what you do not have; it teaches you to count your blessings and be happy.
The next thought is about “Vedaanta is a science”
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