We all have long wish lists that keep changing. Some new wishes are added and some lose their importance. Among the wishes also, some are more dear but the priorities keep on changing with time and circumstances. But if the wishes were to be ranked, money, good health, well-being of the family and trouble-free existence shall be dearly sought by most people. Generally speaking, everyone would like to be as secure as possible and would also love to enjoy one's senses to the maximum.

Having enough money, maintaining good health, family’s well-being and trouble-free existence, all ultimately relate to personal security. To want to be secure is our basic instinct. Therefore, it is not surprising that most of our desires relate to our security. Money, health, etc are also required for a comfortable and enjoyable life. lt is a human tendency to try to enjoy as much as possible without compromising one's security. Not many try to enjoy at the cost of personal security. Even smokers and drunkards hope to escape the ill-effects of their smoking and drinking. If there is a conflict, most would put security before enjoyment.

The difficulty arises when one becomes aware of the fragility of one's body. Also, an intelligent person is aware of the fact that absolute security is a myth. Human body is material after-all, which is born ; grows ; stays ; reproduces ; gets old and ultimately dies. Nothing done by anyone can make it permanent. Similarly, all acquisitions are also transitory.

There are problems with sense pleasures and enjoyments, too. First, there is disproportionate ratio between the effort and the benefit. The benefits are often minuscule in relation to the efforts made to obtain them. Second, the same pleasures do not please as much subsequently. The example of a toy is very appropriate ; the child loses interest in a toy after some time. Third, the sense pleasures suffer from the defect of diminishing return. Suppose someone loves to eat laddoos ; he eats one and enjoys it very much ; he eats the next one and enjoys that too but after a few laddoos the enjoyment reduces. As a matter of fact, slowly he begins to dislike laddoos, if forced to eat more.

Therefore, if one desires lasting pleasure, one should look for something which is permanent in nature and which is increasing rather than decreasing. The scriptures inform us that such pleasures are available but they are in relation to God, like chanting His name, remembering Him, etc. We, the souls, are parts and parcels of God and our bodies have been provided by God to serve Him.

Once the human body is used in the service of the Lord, which is following scriptural directions, one is fully satisfied and the enjoyment goes on increasing. This can be understood by the example of the roots of a tree. Watering the roots would satisfy all -the leaves, branches, fruits, flowers, etc. However, direct watering of the leaves, flowers, fruits and branches shall be useless. Right now our attempts are to water the leaves of our lives and hope to be happy.

Similarly, to be fully secure, one needs to take shelter of the all-powerful God. Only God can provide fearless existence. One may question such a premise since the human body is destructible. Yes! the material body is destructible but God can replace it with a spiritual body upon death. Such a spiritual body is sacchidanand – that is, it is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.

Therefore the perfection of human life is to get connected to God, which is called yoga. And the first step toward this goal is to begin to feel satisfied with one's present and thanking the Lord for the same. After all, everything is provided by God, and we get what we deserve from God. Being dissatisfied does not help since our present is the result of what we have been ; no one can be blamed for our deficiencies. One should be satisfied with one's lot while striving for better. This is most desirable.