Desire's Divine Purpose
A monk once sat in meditation for hours.
His goal? Trying to eliminate all desire.
The harder he tried, the more frustrated he became.
Finally, his teacher approached and said, "You're suffocating the very force that brought you to this temple."
Many spiritual teachings emphasize the importance of controlling our desires. While this wisdom holds truth, we often misinterpret it to mean we must eliminate desires completely.
This misunderstanding can lead us down an impossible path—trying to suppress or destroy the very force that animates our spiritual journey.
Desire isn't the problem. Misdirected desire is.
The Nature of Desire
Imagine trying to eliminate your desire for water. You might succeed for a few hours, but eventually, your body's natural wisdom will override your mental effort.
This same principle applies to all desires: they are not meant to be eliminated but understood and directed.
To understand how desire works in our lives, let's look at its three expressions:
Unconscious Desire: Acting on impulse without awareness
Controlled Desire: Forcing ourselves to resist natural impulses
Conscious Desire: Understanding and directing our desires purposefully
Let's take a look at this Sufi Comic:
Art by Charbak Dipta
When our desires find unconscious expression, it emerges as greed, conquest, selfishness.
But when the longing finds conscious expression, it yearns to connect with the Divine and reflect Divine qualities.
The Nature of Our Desires
We often forget that our desires are infinite. They have no end, no point of complete satisfaction.
Yet we try to fulfill these limitless longings through limited means:
More money (has a number)
Bigger house (has a size)
Higher status (has a level)
This is why we end up disappointed and frustrated. No matter how much we acquire, it's never enough. Our infinite desires cannot be fulfilled by finite means.
The secret lies in channeling these infinite longings toward their true source—the Divine, which is itself infinite and limitless.
This is what the great mystics understood.
When they prayed, they asked without restraint from the One who is All-Powerful, All-Merciful.
As God says in the Quran: "Call upon Me, I will respond to you" (40:60).
But their asking wasn't focused on material gains—these were secondary. Their ultimate desire was connection with the Divine.
They knew they were addressing an infinite source, so they held nothing back in their asking, always keeping their hearts fixed on the highest aim: nearness to God.
The Practical Path Forward
Instead of trying to control your desires, start with this simple practice:
When you notice a strong desire, pause
Ask: "What's the deeper longing beneath this desire?"
Consider: "How can this energy serve a higher purpose?"
Here's how to apply this understanding in life:
Instead of: Viewing desires as obstacles
Try this: See them as raw energy waiting to be directed.
Instead of: Trying to eliminate your desire for success
Try this: Channel that energy into serving others, you'll find success will follow at the right time.
Instead of: Fighting against material desires
Try this: Use them as signposts to understand your deeper longings.
The spiritual path isn't about becoming desireless—it's about allowing our desires to mature into their highest expression.
