Is Jealousy A Function Of Insecurity Or A Reaction Of Unbridled Desire?

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Jealousy is one of the most harmful of human feelings. Not only does it prevent one from experiencing whatever happiness they have claimed, but it slowly and certainly rots the person from inside such that it leaves nothing but suffering in its wake. Where does such a damaging feeling stem from? Is it a function of insecurity or a reaction of unbridled desire? Let us explore!

Let us begin by conceptually breaking down the feeling. Jealousy is when we covet anything anyone else has, become abnormally involved in trying to possess that thing, and fall prey to all sorts of negative responses when we become unsuccessful in our attempts. Now, this is not limited to material things – relationships, financial conditions, social status, lifestyle, health, etc. can all come under the radar of jealousy.

Having understood this, let us look at the first step in the process described above. Jealousy begins when we covet something that we don’t already have, or want more of what we do have. It is important to understand that greed is in itself a deadly poison, but when we harbour negative thoughts for someone who has what we want, we descend further into the pit of destruction.

So, greed seems to be the starting point of jealousy. But is greed a by-product of insecurity, or a reaction of unbridled desire? The answer is both! The truth is that desire itself stems from insecurity. Let us take an example. Suppose a particular family does not own a car, and every time it rains, they feel very uncomfortable and fear getting wet and falling sick when they go out. Now, this is completely understandable. But when they see their neighbours buying a new car, they think “oh, if only we had a car, all our problems would be solved!” They try to save money to buy a car before the next monsoon, but fail in their attempts. They don’t have enough to even get a second-hand model. So they will try again next year. Again they fail. Now, what was a simple desire (or so it seemed) becomes a source of much grief and quarrelling in the family. In this condition, when they see anyone go about in a car, they become full of negative thoughts, fall prey to jealousy, and allow the lack of a single thing to completely negate all other joys and conveniences they do get to enjoy.

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Insecurity and fear of any kind always has the potential to give birth to desire. This desire may be a simple wish in the beginning but as time goes by, it takes the form of greed and eventually leads to jealousy. Coveting someone else’s possessions is a grave mistake and binds tremendous negative karma, whose fruits will have to be borne in the next life in the form of suffering. Instead, it is much better to just accept the circumstances, and make normal efforts but not become obsessively involved in fulfilling one’s desires.

But how to get rid of the insecurity? As we saw in this example, the family was afraid of ruining their health. Not coveting material things is one thing but should one not fear for their well-being? This is exactly where one needs a Gnani. Only a Gnani can liberate one from all insecurities, all fears. When one does not experience the slightest of insecurities, even when it comes to their personal well-being, one experiences true happiness, true freedom.

In this day and age, such liberating knowledge has become available through the path of Akram Vignan, by the grace of Param Pujya Gnani Purush Shri Dada Bhagwan. In just two hours, one can receive the true knowledge of the Self (Self-Realisation), and not only become free of all worldly worries, but eventually attain moksha (ultimate liberation from the cycle of birth and death)!