You can be free from desire. When you desire or crave something and act on it, you become a slave to that desire. To become free from this desire requires nothing extra, it actually requires less. You only have to realize that desire don’t require action. When you understand this, and desire arises, you will see desire in you. You will begin to experience the sensation of desire in your body; watch it rise up in you, peak, and then pass away. Don’t get angry with yourself for having desires, they’re here now, just watch it pass by.
“We all want some kind of relief from that unease, so we turn to what we enjoy—food, alcohol, drugs, sex, work or shopping. In moderation what we enjoy might be very delightful. We can appreciate its taste and its presence in our life. But when we empower it with the idea that it will bring us comfort, that it will remove our unease, we get hooked. So we could…call it “the urge”—the urge to smoke that cigarette, to overeat, to have another drink, to indulge our addiction whatever it is.” (shambhalasun)
When watching desire, and not acting upon it, you gain control over your actions. You make conscious decisions and enjoy the outcomes greater. You will find desires lose their power over you when you observe them. To watch desire is to take the wind out of it’s sails. The wind gets placed into consciousness, which is at your control.
I have observed many desires over the past year. My Coffee Addiction was the hardest to gain control of, however, mindfully looking at the situation over time desire gave way. I felt the cravings, I felt the urges, I felt my body becoming tired and accepted the situation. 2 weeks of this, and non-stop headaches (I was a 4+ cup a day drinker), desire let up. I regained the ability to enjoy coffee. It’s no longer an unconscious thought. Each cup is something I’ve specifically set out to drink. I no longer feel like I’m lacking without coffee, I feel better, naturally.
To overcome desire, to be free, all that’s required is not to action, but watch it in your body. When you become free from desire, you gain control of your life.
EDIT: The Personal Development Carnival has picked up this post—Thanks guys!
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Thanks for the great post, it is food for thought for me as a chocolate addict.