Should we gratify our desires so that we don’t carry our desires to the next life?

Answer Podcast

Do Desires Stay Till the End of Life—and Require Another Birth?

That depends on several factors—primarily the strength and nature of the desire.

1. Strength of the Desire

Some desires are like temporary itches—if we scratch them once, the sensation goes away. For example, we might feel an urge to scratch our nose or head, and once we do, we return to normal.
But if there’s a rash and we scratch it, the condition worsens, and the scratching becomes compulsive.

Similarly, some desires are fleeting—we fulfill them and move on. For example, if one has a desire to eat a particular kind of food, and they offer it to Krishna and eat it mindfully, the desire often doesn’t linger.

So the key is to observe:

• Is the desire coming repeatedly?
• Is it intense and long-lasting?

If so, it’s a stronger desire that may need more deliberate handling.

2. Nature of the Desire

We also need to evaluate: How does this desire align with my values and spiritual goals?

• If the desire is anti-devotional—leading us away from Krishna—it is problematic.
• If it is neutral or even pro-devotional, it may not be harmful and might even be helpful.

For example, if someone desires to eat a certain food occasionally, and it doesn’t distract them from Krishna consciousness, it may not be a big issue. On the other hand, if the desire pulls them away from Krishna, then it requires more caution.

How Should We Respond to Desires?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. We need to deal with desires appropriately based on context:

• Neglecting a desire may sometimes cause it to fade.
• Gratifying a desire (in moderation and with Krishna consciousness) may help us outgrow it—not because of the gratification itself, but due to the parallel process of purification.

So we transcend desires not just by denying or fulfilling them, but through a judicious combination of gratification and purification.

Desires Aligned with One’s Nature

Many desires arise from our psychophysical nature. For example:

• A Vaishya has a strong urge to earn and manage wealth. That’s not wrong. If done in a dharmic and devotional way, it leads to charity and service.
• A Brahmana naturally has a desire to read, study, and analyze. They may engage in reading both scriptural and general books, which can enhance their ability to serve Krishna intellectually.

So, is a desire aligned with our nature a material desire?
I personally find the material/spiritual classification a bit limiting.

Instead, I prefer the categories:

• Devotional desires: Directly related to Krishna consciousness.
• Pro-devotional desires: Supportive of devotion, even if indirectly.
• Non-devotional desires: Neither harmful nor helpful to devotion.
• Anti-devotional desires: Pull us away from Krishna.

For instance, if someone wants to switch careers, it may be because the new field is more aligned with their nature or offers greater scope to serve Krishna better. Even if not directly spiritual, it may still be pro-devotional or non-devotional, and worth pursuing.

Balancing the Needs of the Soul and the Body–Mind

There’s a powerful idea (from The Journey Within, rephrased in my own way):

“The art of living is to balance the needs of the soul with the needs of the body and mind.”

Sometimes, we swing too far in favor of bodily needs, neglecting spiritual growth. Other times, we try to force renunciation and neglect our body–mind needs, leading to frustration and agitation.

Each person must find their own balance.

• Some may have a strong renunciant disposition, due to their past lives or upbringing, and can easily let go of desires.
• Others may struggle more, and in such cases, it’s better to acknowledge and deal with desires appropriately, rather than suppress them in a way that leads to greater turmoil.

---

Conclusion

Not all desires are obstacles to spiritual growth. Some may be stepping stones, if we engage with them wisely and devotionally. The key is not simply suppression or indulgence, but intelligent integration—guided by introspection, scriptural wisdom, and Krishna consciousness.