Dev - uttana: gods awaken

Gautam Buddha's message to people is, that they are asleep.  People are born asleep. He talks about a deep unconsciousness within humans. 

Desire is a natural phenomenon when one is asleep. And desire is, dreaming. When you wake up, dreams disappear.

Desire cannot be dropped - unless you wake up.

Many have tried to drop desire  - without waking up. 

- Desires grow, like leaves on a tree - Osho

Speaking Tree,