Ashtavakra Gita 16.7 -

Desire is virtually the moving force for every one in the world. It sprouts because of the body, which makes one feel separate from all the rest. Seeing many things all around, the mind starts desiring one or more of them. But before desiring or during its prevalence, does anyone take up the question as to why should one desire at all? Who is this ‘I’, that fosters and pursues it vigorously?

Is the ‘I’ such that it needs many things as its? Or the ‘I’ is such that when it is rightly known, there will be no scope for desire at all? Is not ‘I’ the witness of all the things, including the desired? Even when the desired object is gained and is present by one’s side, will not the ‘I’ remain just its witness? Where is the question of witness enjoying anything at all? It will be the witness of the object as well as its enjoyment.

Ashtavakra Maharshi says desire sprouts and prevails only in a state where one does not take to discrimination. The moment discrimination begins, the nature and status of the ‘I’ will be known and desire will become redundant. Because the Self is blissful, secondless and absolute!

In the absence of such tattva-vichāra, desire together with the rejectable-acceptable duo, overpowers the mind causing verily a labyrinth. Desire and hatred, likes and dislikes, preference and prejudice, etc. are repeated urges mind generates and suffers from.