Desires from Fullness Versus Lack

"You said desire is the gravitational pull of God on the finite being. But how do we know if a desire comes from fullness or lack? When should we pursue desires versus dropping into being? Rupert says: ‘If your desire is initiated by a sense of lack, I would investigate the one on whose behalf that desire arises rather than trying to fulfil it. But if the desire comes from a sense of fullness, I would try to fulfil it. A desire from fullness comes from love. For instance, a close friend’s birthday – you love them deeply, want to express that love, so you want to buy them a gift perfectly tailored to them. You go to endless lengths to find just the right thing that will give them a burst of joy. Or you invite friends for dinner to share your fullness with them, not because you’re lonely and want others to fill up your sense of lack. If you have a dinner party for that reason, your friends will temporarily fill the lack, but when you wake up the next morning, it’ll still be there.’"

From event 05 - 12 October, 2025 Seven-Day Retreat at Garrison Institute, 5–12 October 2025

Subscribe or purchase View full event recordings