Everyone engages in some form of action every day.
Whether an action is intentional—driven by desire—or something that garners public acclaim or criticism, we are constantly being impelled to act, often unconsciously.
No matter when, where, or what we are doing—even when we believe we are acting of our own volition—we are, in reality, continually being driven to act by latent impressions.
It is much like a hamster running endlessly on its wheel.
We are driven to act by actions associated with a vast amount of latent impressions of worldly desires from past lives.
In doing so, one sows further seeds of these latent impressions within oneself; when those seeds sprout, they in turn compel one to engage in actions based on those very same latent impressions.
Actions driven by worldly passions exhibit certain characteristics.
The first is that when we achieve good results or desirable things, we rejoice wildly, enjoying a fleeting sense of happiness and superiority, but that euphoria does not last, and our interest in what we have gained fades, we become greedy for more, and we fear the change or loss of what we have gained.
The second is that when faced with a bad outcome or an undesirable event, one falls into grief and rage, and is overcome by negative, dispiriting emotions such as a sense of emptiness or inferiority.
Furthermore, it doesn't stop there; it involves attacking or despising the reasons why one failed to obtain the object of their desire, constantly striving to acquire things based on their own selfish desires, even at the expense of others, and having a constantly restless and anxious mind.
These actions rooted in defilements sow the seeds of defilement within oneself; furthermore, one is continually driven toward actions accompanied by defilements—actions that ultimately lead to suffering.
So, how can one break free from actions driven by the latent impressions of worldly desires?
The answer lies in letting go of the ego.
It means relinquishing the sense of being the "doer," following the guidance of the sublime presence that creates and sustains one's very existence, and offering up both the actions and their results.
It also means letting go of attachment to outcomes and shifting one's consciousness—while acting—away from the perspective of the ego and toward that of the True Self.
As a result, no new worldly desires are accumulated, and the underlying impressions based on the actions currently being performed are purified.
As the mind and body are purified and the soul evolves and improves, the less we are driven by worldly desires, our true selves are awakened, and we can attain true freedom, liberated from actions driven by worldly desires.
Letting go of the ego does not mean becoming someone other than yourself; rather, it means shedding the false self—steeped in the worldly passions driven by the ego—to become your true self, guided by the voice of the soul.
It is about realizing the true self that dwells deep within the finite being known as "you"—a composite of body and mind—and realizing the Source that governs the sublime cosmic processes of creation, preservation, and destruction.
You may even come to remember that this very Source is, in fact, who you are.
Every moment of your daily life is a training ground for the soul.
Events are unfolding that are perfectly suited to purifying and eradicating the latent impressions of worldly desires.
Will you continue to be held captive by superficial, fleeting appearances and driven endlessly by actions born of worldly desires?
Or will you realize the truth that lies beneath those actions—the cosmic truth underlying all things—and attain true freedom?
Your soul probably already knows what you want.
