Worldly desires have crept into the thinking, and have inter-mingled with the thoughts. It is in the company of the body that the thinking has shaped itself with the mold of desires. So, the question arises, "How can they be separated"? The "Knowledge of Brahman," can never be acquired unless desires are given up. Due to the habitual notion of "doing something" and reaping its fruit, our "Inner-consciousness" (Antahkarana) is inclined toward the fulfillment of desires, and this has given rise to ego.

Forgetting the "True Nature" (Swaroopa), one clings to the concept "I am the body," and the mind becomes identified with the individual consciousness (Jiva). This is the reason one becomes fascinated with worldly desires, and fond of sensuous pleasures.

Had thoughts ever been the true nature of the individual, they would have gravitated only towards the individual consciousness, and would have never become involved with desires. The individual consciousness, while forgetting its "true self," strives to satisfy the thinking. As the thinking has become infatuated with desires, the individual consciousness has also, accordingly become obsessed with them.

The individual consciousness is truly eternally free, and is only in the form of Life-energy. The pride for the body, and the pride of the mind, along with the pride in one’s thinking, have snow-balled into a rigid, yet untrue, pride. It is due to this pride, that the individual consciousness seems to have become the body, and in its constant company, has yielded to desires. One who gives up all pride, attains freedom from bondage and comes out from the ocean of worldly existence.

As all objects are only Paramatman, nothing can be claimed. One should have the attitude that "All of this belongs to Paramatman, Let things take their own course, what is it to me? Whatever happens, whatever is lost, it is none of my concern." One who behaves in this manner is transformed into Paramatman.

It is said that "Intense detachment" is total renunciation, and that "Pure detachment" is to live in this world as we would in a guesthouse, while "Moderate detachment" is to gradually draw apart from the worldly affairs. When none of these three is possible, service to the saints and sages with a total dedication of our body, mind and wealth can help generate detachment.

A Yogi’s fortune is truly great, when detachment from the body is established. One should renounce all desires. The pride associated with one’s house, wife, children, and wealth, all should be given up. This helps one break free of bondage. In order to give up pride, one should worship. One should know and say, "I am not the body, I am the Self." One should say, "I am He, who is in all". After expelling desire, one comes to know that all beings are Paramatman. This is when the individual consciousness attains the state of Paramatman. Since desires and thoughts are both untrue, how can they ever really affect the individual consciousness?

The individual consciousness, with the help of the body has fulfilled many desires in this transient world. Thoughts, in the company of desires have turned passionate. Day and night, the intellect (Buddhi) thinks of sensual desires that are dear to it. This is why the pride associated with desires has come into being. Strong ties have been developed with worldly desires, and one’s concepts have become an obstruction.

Due to the pride associated with the body, the individual consciousness considers all things related to the body, whether good or bad, as its own. The individual has thus forgotten it’s own "True Nature" (Swaroopa) and instead, has focused on desires. "Knowledge" is nothing but radical change in the intellect. The moment one is truly initiated, or starts behaving according to the advice of the Master, one can immediately attain liberation. Listening to, and reflection on, spiritual discourse is the only method to arrive at the "Ultimate Truth" (Paramartha).

Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj - From a talk given on June 21, 1933

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