It is true that you get trapped most of time, your desires are highly influenced by your surroundings. Over the next few days and weeks, make sure you don’t go backing off from deep and meaningful conversations just because the topic makes you nervous. You will be amazed at – taking a subject which feels a bit ‘taboo’ can lead you to seeing everything from a much wider perspective. On a less esoteric level, sometime love, sex and money to take up a lot of your head space.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs is often depicted as a pyramid consisting of five levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as deficiency needs associated with physiological needs, while the top level is termed growth needs associated with psychological needs. Deficiency needs must be met first. Once these are met seeking to satisfy growth needs drives personal growth. The higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus once all the lower needs in the pyramid are satisfied. Once an individual has moved past a level, those needs will no longer be prioritized. However, if a lower set of needs is no longer being met, the individual will temporarily re-prioritize those needs – dropping down to that level until the lower needs are reasonably satisfied again. Innate growth forces constantly create upward movement.

In some Buddhist text it has been written that Earthly desires are enlightenment. It does not at all mean that earthly desires are in themselves enlightenment. But without eradicating earthly desires one can’t attain enlightenment. This principle has been illustrated in Buddhism that with the metaphor of the lotus flower. The lotus flower blooms in a muddy swamp. Without must there is no lotus. The muddy water is necessary to sustain the life of the lotus but the lotus is not the muddy water itself.

Because there are earthly desires enlightenment can be attained. Earthly desires indicate illusion. Enlightenment indicates an awakening of the truth. As we raise our fundamental life condition, what functioned as earthly desires begins to function as enlightenment and what produces sufferings begin to produce joy. As we tap our potential through practice our desires naturally

Hinduism recognizes the importance of material possessions for the overall happiness and well being of an individual. In hindi ‘Artha’ means wealth which is an essential parameter for one to be ‘Purushottam‘ a perfect human being. A house holder requires wealth, because he has to perform many duties to uphold Dharma and take care of the needs of his family and society. A person should not seek riches for wealth sake but to uphold Dharma and help the members of his family and society achieve their goals. Hinduism therefore rightly places material belongings as the second most important objective in human life. While Dharma and Moksha are meant for oneself, affluence and sex are to be pursued for the sake of others.

Hinduism advocates austerity, simplicity and detachment, but does not glorify poverty. Material goods is not an impediment to self-realization, but attachment to assets is. Desire for riches is different from greed for wealth. Selfless desire for wealth is preferable to the selfish one. You can’t deny that Money and prosperity are a form of divine energy.

Seeking prosperity through human actions is not discouraged in Hinduism. The vedic hymns are mostly invocations addressed to gods and goddesses by men desiring means and assets. However they also emphasize the need for right intention, right means and moderation in the pursuit of wealth. Aiming for it is a virtue, but greed is not. Amassing possessions for the family and for the welfare of oneself is not sinful, but taking what does not belong to one is. Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism benefited greatly in the past by the individual contribution of rich merchants, their wives and children.

Poverty has become a strange reality in present day Hindu society and erroneously considered by many as a virtue. This is a strange influence. Hindus have become so poverty conscious that if a saint or a sage leads a comfortable life, all scoff at him, saying that he is not a true yogi. They have to remind themselves of the simple fact that none of the Hindu Gods are really poor. Lord Vishnu and Krishna are good examples . While they always help the poor and the needy, none of them glorify poverty as a virtue. According to Hinduism all experiences are self created and provide an opportunity to learn. So is poverty and so is wealth. Renunciation does not mean to leave aside wealth or denounce the wealthy. It means detachment from wealth. Hinduism advocates moderation and balance in the pursuit of material and spiritual goals. Some Hindus think otherwise, ignoring the fact that what is applicable to an ascetic does not apply to a householder.

Swami Vivekananda rightly said that religion was not for the empty stomachs. When a person is beset with survival problems, he would hardly find any solace in religion. Soothing words would not comfort a hungry soul as much as a morsel of food.