Once a Guru was giving a discourse; thousands of followers gathered to listen to him. He was saying that God sent His messenger to check who would all be interested to come out of samsara, worldly life and & be permanently in heaven, in nirvana. The messenger went around asking people but none seem ready. Finally an 80 year old man showed some interest and agreed to go after he finished what he intended to do. The man asked for time to get his greatchildren married.

When the messenger returned to take him to heaven, he found that old man had died and taken rebirth as a dog in the same household. As a dog he wanted to safeguard his children's property. When the messenger returned after a few years to take him, he found that the dog has died and taken rebirth as a frog near the kitchen drain of the same family. The God's messenger dutifully reminded the frog of his old promise, the frog decisively said he was happy as he got surplus food and drink from drain. So its that heaven becomes last priority.

As per Buddhist Abhidharma, we are being swayed away by the river of Desire. When we see a beautiful object or person, we go beyond just appreciating the beauty; but get attached to it and want to take its possession. We create many imaginary things which are not there in reality. Sometimes the related glories may have already been achieved then we are anxious of losing what is achieved. Our insecurity makes us build strong forces to protect our glory from all challenges & threats and thus we flow with the river of desire.