Where should we search for desires?
The desire is not anywhere outside.
The desire is not in the food items; it is there inside the person who consumes them.
The desire is not in the textile items; it is there inside the person who is blinded with the crazy fondness for fashionable clothes.
The desire works from inside.
But what does it mean by saying inside?
The desire cannot work without having a comfortable seat for it. It stays inside the body as well as inside the mind..
Which means desire is not there either in the outside objects or in Atma (in true Self).
The mind can travel through all five senses and five organs of action. These senses and organs and mind are the places where desire can function.
In body: five senses and five organs of action
In mind: emotions, thoughts and knowledge
Bhagavad Gita says:
इन्द्रियाणि मनोबुद्धिः अस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते एतैर् विमोचयतेष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम्।
indriyāṇi manobuddhiḥ
asyādhiṣṭhānamucyate
etair vimohayateṣa
jñānamāvṛtya dehinam (Chapter III Karmayoga - Sloka 40)
The Indriya-s, Manas and Buddhi are the seats of desire; the Self is deluded by them (the affected Indriya-s, Manas and Buddhi) who cover and hide the true Jñānam.
Bhagavad Gita suggests a method to get rid of desires in body, mind and knowledge in the next Sloka. We will see that.