Is Desire for Moksa Zero Sum

Rick: Thanks, Sundari – your response is helpful as always 🙂 Is desire for Moksha zero sum too?

Sundari: Though the desire for moksa itself is mithya and is the last to go before Self-knowledge obtains, moksa is the only desire which is not zero-sum because you are already moksa. I.e., Satya is your true nature, it is not in mithya. Though you do not actually gain anything when Self-knowledge obtains, you lose the ignorance standing in the way of full and permanent appreciation of who you are, which brings permanent satisfaction. And that is not zero-sum!

Other desires that are not opposed to dharma, such as the desire to act according to your nature as a jiva (for instance if you are an artist or a business-minded type, to live as one, the desire to live simply and honestly, to enjoy the closeness of loved ones, etc., basically any desire that does not disturb the mind, are still zero-sum because they are all in mithya. There are upsides and downsides.

These desires come and go and so does the bliss from them; there is nothing to be gained from fulfilling them other than relative bliss and peace of mind (sattva). This of course is what all humans prize very highly whether they know it or not because a disturbed mind driven by rajas and tamas is painful. However, when the mind is stuck in duality, bliss and peace of mind are hard to come by and never lasts long thanks to the ever-changing nature of the gunas. Even when desire is not opposed to dharma its fulfillment still comes and goes, and there is still a dependence on objects for happiness, which you have no control over.  

But when Self-knowledge has actualized, and you know you are moksa, though peace of mind is still equally important, it is not essential because all the gunas are objects known to you.  Though you never break dharma, you are the Self whether the mind is peaceful (sattvic) or not, the bliss of Self-knowledge never comes and goes. So, a free person follows their nature and has no problem with desires that are not opposed to dharma, but they do not depend on their fulfillment for their happiness.

Much love

Sundari