“Burgundy Cherry Ice Cream” is the heading of Easwaran’s section on the dynamics of desire in this week’s reading, pages 121–124 in The Mantram Handbook.* And he uses that delicacy to show why satisfying the desire for something physical cannot lead to lasting happiness.
“It is the nature of a desire to exhaust itself, the mystics say. Even if eating that burgundy cherry cone gives you satisfaction – and no one is denying that – how long does this satisfaction last? More than that, if you keep on eating ice cream, cone after cone, satisfaction soon turns to satiation, and then eventually to revulsion. But this hasn’t helped to get rid of the desire: when you are hungry again, the desire will be back, and no amount of indulgence on the physical level can root it out, because desire is in the mind.”
We look forward to hearing about the insights you gain from this week’s reading, and how you put them into action.
What is Easwaran telling you about the workings of your own mind? This week, use this new understanding to get some cooperation from your mind when it is being uncooperative. Tell us how it goes!
We have been making a second pass through our mantram exercises and looking for ways to deepen them, for example by practicing more consistently or via a bit of extra effort or preparation.
This week, try taking a “mantram nap” at a time that is practical for you during your day. Simply lie down for 10 to 20 minutes (set an alarm if needed) and silently repeat the mantram. Try to keep the mantram going. If you drowse off, that’s ok, just start the mantram again when possible.
Mantram naps can refresh you so you have more energy for the rest of the day. Many of us find it very helpful to take a short mantram nap before our evening meditation.
* For those using electronic versions of The Mantram Handbook with different page numbering: this week’s reading comes from chapter eight, starting with the subheading “Greed” and ending before the subheading “Desires Come and Go.”
