Conversations & Questions: 17/09/24
The Function and Dynamics of Desire Desire is an upswelling of being, just as the wave is an upswelling in the ocean. It is a natural movement of life, a symptom not a cause. Desire is often thought of as a driving force in both spiritual and worldly pursuits. It propels us to seek, to achieve, and to grow. But what if our understanding of desire is misguided? What if, instead of being the engine behind our spiritual journey, it is something entirely different—a symptom rather than a cause? This dialogue between the questioner and Imogen Webber explores the deeper meaning of desire in the context of spiritual growth. Q: I'm interested in the function of desire. I think I’ve misunderstood desire for a long time. I thought it was desire that carried me forward spiritually, that it drove me to each new stage of my journey. There was a time during an intensive retreat you were leading. I remember you were starting to have people look into your eyes at the beginning of the session. It was during that time I started to have this feeling—this nagging sense—that I might have been wrong about desire. I began to wonder…