QnA with Sri Sri

Q: Guruji, we are told to give up desires, but on the other hand, we were advised to strive for moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death). Isn’t this also increasing our desires?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, increase your desires for the large things in life, not small things. It is the desire for small things that causes problems. If you have to have desires, ask for the highest, that is, the Supreme Being. Seek to make the whole Universe your own, desire for everyone’s happiness in this Universe.
When desires are big they are no longer detrimental. When you desire for truth, when you are committed to truth, the mind becomes calm and clear. Small desires give rise to restlessness, but desire for the highest truth settles the mind. Restlessness is something that brings pain.