We all want lots of things in life. If given a choice we would want everything for us leaving nothing for others irrespective of the fact that whether we need that or not. May be we don’t want everything right now, but our list of wants increases as and when we know these things exists. When we are born we want very limited things in life as our world is very limited. A baby is born and he/she encounters a very limited world. He can see a small cosy cot and some family members. So what he wants is his cot and their love and attention. We start becoming selfish as we start learning. Learning starts from the day we are born. How can it be true that a small baby who hasn’t seen atrocities of the world is selfish? He would not like to share his tiny coat with anyone, you make a gesture that you are going to sleep on his coat and he would cry, so what is that? When he doesn’t get attention from his parents, like when there are some guests at home, he would be cranky, so lesson to become selfish has started. When he grows he gets toys to play with, he is very happy when he sees his new toys but that happiness evaporates when he sees that his friend in neighbour has a bigger and better toy. Suddenly his own toy which has been a source of happiness to him up till now, no longer pleases him and he wants a toy better than his friend’s toy or atleast the same toy. The child has learned his second lesson of Envy. So selfishness and envy are the lessons which are increasing his list of wants.
