''desireless'' is not a thought. If it is a thought, then it won't stand longer; because thoughts have birth and death, it will never sustain. So, ''desireless'' is not a thought but it is a state. From this, it is sure that you can't reach there by the thought form of ''desireless''. Mundakam Upanishad says the way to reach that 'desireless' state - “one cannot reach there by studying or teaching, nor by intellect, nor by vast hearing; that one who desires it, will reach it by the grace of the desired one (soul).” It means you can become 'desireless' only by earnest desire of getting the Self and if you want to be 'desireless' then you should be wise enough to know that there is no pleasure in this universe. Pleasure and Peace is only within the Self - that is what Chandogya Upanishad teaches. "The infinite is bliss. There is no bliss in anything finite. Only the Infinite is bliss. One must desire to understand the Infinite." Therefore when one has the realization of the world, then only one can reach the 'desireless' state. One of the prominent ways to reach there is mentioned in Taittiriya Upanishad – it is by TAPAS(penance). "That from which these beings are born, That by which, when born, they live, That into which they enter, they merge—seek to know That. That is Brahman." So by tapas, you can reach there and this tapas cannot be defined because everything is tapas; birth and death is tapas; all our activities in life is tapas for the seeker. This is the declaration by Ishavasya Upanishad – “Through birth overcome birth, through death overcome death."
Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest monk ever lived, explained the scenario of tapas in the most simple words as possible - "Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy — by one, or more, or all of these — and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms are but secondary details."
This highest state can't be reached so long as you have 'body consciousness'. Chandogya Upanishad declares - "This body is mortal, always held by death. It is the abode of the Self which is immortal and incorporeal. This body is grasped with likes and dislikes. So long as one is identified with the body, there is no cessation of likes and dislikes. But neither likes nor dislikes touches one who is not identified with the body.” Thus 'desireless' state is the outcome of tapas. Tapas, if said in one word, is LOVE. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad said - "Verily, not for the sake of the beings, my dear, are the beings loved, but they are loved for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of the All, my dear, is the All loved, but it is loved for the sake of the self. Verily, it is the Self that should be realized - should be heard of, reflected on and meditated upon. By the realization of the Self, — through hearing, reflection and meditation — all this is known.” It means - we love everything because of Self and that Self is to be loved above everything. When that unselfish love for the Self sprouts from within, then truth will reveal itself. This unselfish love is obtained only by grace - is the essence of the Upanishad teaching. And the gracious seeker will never forget this immortal description of Swami Vivekananda - “The only solution for the world is Unworldliness.”
Love for Self and renunciation is synonymous to each other. When the love comes, there is nothing to be renounced. Because he sees everything as SELF, so what is there to be renounced? Ishavasyam Upanishad said – “To the seer, all things have verily become the Self: what delusion, what sorrow, can there be for him who beholds that oneness?” When you understand everything is god, then it means nothing is yours; when you see world in that light, then what is there to be renounced? "What ever that is moving in this changing universe - is covered by the SELF. For this reason, enjoy whatever is given to you by Him. Do not covet what belong to others.” It underlines the truth that when everything is Lord's then it is neither mine nor others. When one has this wisdom (that nothing is his) then he doesn't desire to make anything for his own. He understands that if it is not his, then it belongs to other. And who is other? It is the Self. Not only that, none can give up anything which is not 'his'. We can give to others only those things which we posses. When Self is the owner of everything then how can you give up something? This wisdom is true renunciation. Enjoy everything without ownership - is renunciation. And this renunciation is not easy and it is the highest state. But there is nothing to worry if you make only slow progress towards 'desireless' state. The nature of abstract science is like that - it has ups and down. Katha Upanishad said – “When the five instruments of knowledge stand still together with the mind and when the intellect does not move, that is called the Supreme State. This, the firm Control of the senses, is what is called yoga. One must then be vigilant; because yoga has rise and fall.” Thus a seeker should always be vigilant because the mind is in a constant state of flux. One should be patient when mind is uncontrollable and after some time it will be tamed.
This is a rare video footage of ramana mahrishi whose a pefect example of "desireless'. if you have not seen how a desireless person lived in this universe then watch this video.
Salutations to the Rishis
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