Ye dil mange more

My cousin was a toddler - may be two years old. When ever he saw something new, he would declare to his mother - we also should get this for our home. 

We never really grow out of this want. When we see something others have, we decide we should own them too. 

 

No, most of us do not stoop so low as to steal the said item. 

 

The object of desire  could be as small as a new type of spoon or as ambitious as a car. 

If we are unable to afford that item, our anger automatically turns towards the person who gives us money aka our spouse/parents. Why doesn't he  have  enough money?

 

Next, this anger turns towards the owner of the said item. 

If the person who owns is economically below us - then we will certainly be outraged. How dare he/she buy such a thing? Where does he/she get the money for it? Does he/she steal, cheat or what?

I hear many of you complaining and saying you are not such a mean person. "In fact you believe in charity - you give out stuff to people, to your domestic help (the items which are too old or out of fashion for you)". But tell me frankly, do you have this magnanimity towards your equals? Do you feel happy when your colleague/cousin buys that new car, you were dreaming of buying? Do you really feel "happy for them"?

Right now, I am trying to light diyas as part of deepavali celebrations. Again the feeling is, my house must have most beautiful diyas, every one must praise them. And others should not have prettier diyas. 

It flashed to me. This the green eyed monster - jealousy, envy. None of us are devoid of this feeling. Not even the "sarva tyakta" - stoic sages.  

 

Even the great sage Vishwamitra from our mythology, wanted to be a better rishi than Vasishta. And he tried all different methods for becoming a brahmarshi.  He made the king Trishanku hang in a space between heaven and earth - famously known as Trishanku swarga. 

And this mentality of "me - the great !" (and only me should be greatest) is being greatly encouraged in consumerist world.