Desires do not Die with Fulfillment

Desires do not die with fulfillment. A short story by Osho reveals the truth.

A devotee once prayed to Lord Siva devoutly for years. One day the Lord appeared before him and offered him the choice of three boons. The devotee asked the Lord to wait a little, for he had forgotten the actual purpose of praying to the Lord. He thought for a while and asked the Lord that his wife be dead as he hated her.

Immediately Lord Shiva granted the boon and the wife fell dead. The first boon was granted.

Once the man saw his wife dead, he realised his love for her.

Hence he claimed her life back and the Lord revived his wife. The second boon was also exhausted.

Now the devotee wanted to be very prudent about the choice of the third boon, since two were wasted. He thought for a long time searching his desires, but grew perplexed about what he actually desired.

Hence he turned to the Lord for His suggestion.

Lord Shiva said, “Ask for the state of having no desires, for nothing else is worthwhile. One's restlessness does not end with the fulfillment of desires. At the fulfillment of each desire a new one emerges. There is no end to the play of desires. Whatsoever you desire, the next moment you will want something else, even the opposite of what you previously asked.”

"Osho thus says that aiming to go beyond desires is what will bestow contentment.

If you really want to know who I am, you have to be as absolutely empty as I am. Then two mirrors will be facing each other, and only emptiness will be mirrored: two mirrors facing each other. But if you have some idea, then you will see your own idea in me."