Greatest Mystery of them all!

Mythology has it that Yudhishtra told his father Yama: The greatest mystery of mankind is that everyone thinks one is immortal, even though one sees others dying around them every moment. I asked my Master: Do you really think that this is the greatest of all mysteries of life? He answered inscrutably: Surely this is one of the greatest paradoxes. I persisted: What do you think is a greater paradox? He said: When I see people suffering and yet cling onto desires which in turn bring sufferings, I wish they understand that this is the greatest paradox of them all; chasing their desires hoping happiness would follow. ‘Why not’ I asked, ‘Once you lose hope and stop seeking and desiring what is there to live for?’ ‘Desires, unless truly fulfilled, breed more desires. It is a never ending vicious downward cycle. What one feels as happiness as one’s desire is fulfilled turns into anxiety, fear and greed as another desire succeeds it; and finally into sorrow, when the desire does not get fulfilled.’ Master said firmly. ‘Perhaps what you say is true, but I do feel quite happy and contented when I get what I want. Why worry about what happens later? You have said to live in the present moment!’ I knew I was pushing my luck. Master said with a gentle smile, ‘When it suits you the present moment is always handy. This happiness you feel is the gap between two sorrows; it can never be permanent. It is like saying we are at peace, because there is a ceasefire in the battle!’ ‘You said unless desire is fulfilled it will breed more desires and cause sorrow. What do you mean by that?’ I asked, now piqued. ‘We are all born with definite needs that the Universe provides for. Just let go and flow with nature, these needs will be fulfilled. However, as we grow up we accumulate wants born out of greed, fear and jealousy to our needs. These wants can never be fulfilled. They will only lead you down into sorrow,’ Master said without a smile. ‘I do not understand this difference between need and want’, I was confused. Master said gently, ‘Listen. What you need to survive is one meal a day. What you need to wear is one piece of cloth, if you feel that it is necessary. What you need to sleep on, is six feet of ground. These are your needs. Would you be able to make do with these?’ 'Of course not, it's preposterous! What will people think if I eat one meal a day, wear one saffron cloth like you, and sleep on the ground?' I expostulated. 'Ah' He laughed, 'Now we have gotten somewhere. What will people think? So your happiness is based on what others think, not what you feel you really need?' 'You know, you are too smart for me. I am not questioning you to show my knowledge. I really do not know. I want to understand. Please tell me where I am going wrong.' I was close to tears. His deep compassion lit deep into me. 'I know. Remember this. When I gave up my parental home this whole world became my Home. You become happy not by becoming materially wealthy, but by limiting your needs. Would you rather grow wealth and then chase health? A so called poor man eating his one square meal a day eats it with so much of delight. Do you ever see that in a person dining in a five star restaurant? Instead of walking you drive and then you complain you don't have time to exercise? Do you really think you are living in the present moment?' My Master said that living within one's real needs is called 'aparigriha', and is one of the five factors of 'yama', in the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali. This is also one of the five basic vows taken by sanyasins (saints). Today, I am surprised that things which used to seem so important to me a while ago are so irrelevant to me now. A genuine internal need that arises from present moment awareness has replaced the wants spurred on by what others may want of me.