May 14, 2026
This week I’m continuing the discourse with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, from his book, I AM THAT. It’s another excerpt from an exchange between him and a visitor from the West who is designated the Questioner, or “Q.” “M” designates his reply, the initial of his title Maharaj.
It another delightful mini-discourse, as I think you might agree.
Lots of love,
Mayet
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Q: So you are saying that bliss is also temporary and not the ultimate pursuit? The memory of my wonderful experiences of bliss haunts me. I want them back.
M: Because you want them back, you cannot have them. The state of craving for anything blocks all deeper experience. Nothing of value can happen to a mind which knows exactly what it wants. For nothing the mind can visualize and want is of much value.
Q: Then what is worth wanting?
M: Want the best. The highest happiness, the greatest freedom. This is what desirelessness actually is… wanting the best. Not things and possessions, not the physical-based wanting. These are desires.
Desirelessness is the greatest, highest bliss, and in it — tho it seems contradictory — is the fulfillment of all desires. Certainly be aware of your desires and wants. Knowing what you desire is not bad, there is a strength in the awareness of them. Have them and be aware that you do. But craving them is another matter. Craving is a hunger for which there is no satiety. No amount of receiving can fill it’s gaping maw. Be free of such desire.
Q: But freedom from desire is not the freedom I want. I want the freedom to fulfill my longings.
M: What you do not understand it that you are free to fulfill your longings. As a matter of fact, you are doing nothing else, ever. That is life.
Q: I try, but there are obstacles which leave me frustrated.
M: Overcome them.
Q: I cannot, I am too weak.
M: What makes you weak? What is weakness? Others fulfill their desires, why not you?
Q: I must be lacking energy.
M: What happened to your energy? Where did it go? Did you not scatter it over so many contradictory desires and pursuits? You don’t have an infinite supply of energy.
Q: Why not?
M: Your aims are small and low. They do not call for more. Only God‘s energy is infinite – because God wants nothing for the self. God knows it is the All, therefore God wants for the All… the All that god knows themselves to be. Be like god, know you are the All and all your desires will be fulfilled. The higher your aims and your desires, the more energy you have for their fulfillment. Desire the good of all and the universe will work for you. But if you want your own pleasure, you must earn it the way all singular pleasure is earned — you must desire it, deserve it and then achieve it. That is the way of earthy desires. They can certainly be fulfilled. By gaining them in this way. And that takes much energy.
