Desire (Skt. काम Kama / इच्छा Iccha) is an impulse to act or possess that arises when latent tendencies stored in the causal body are projected into the active mind. On the path of knowledge, desires are analyzed as natural patterns in memory that must be observed and understood rather than blindly obeyed.

Arising and Motivation

• The Source: Desires are the motivating forces of the egoic layers. They drip continuously from the causal body into the active mind as subtle impulses.

• Like Rain: Desires are like rain — as soon as the mind wakes up, they start pouring. An untrained mind is a slave to these desires, jumping compulsively from one urge to the next in search of temporary pleasure.

Awareness and Control

On the path of knowledge, desire is not treated as an enemy to be violently suppressed, but as an activity to be witnessed:

• Catching the Impulse: If you become aware of a desire at its very source, it is incredibly easy to control. Trying to stop an action at the level of emotions or the physical body is like building a giant dam over a raging river; but catching the desire when it is just a tiny impulse in the causal body is like stopping the river at its spring.

• Creating a Pause: awareness creates a gap or pause between the arising of a desire and the physical action. This pause gives the intellect time to think, utilize common sense, and choose the most logical, non-violent response.

• Delaying Gratification: The more intense your awareness is, the more you can delay or discard unnecessary desires, thereby wiping out the suffering caused by unfulfilled cravings.

See also

Causal body, ego, mind, awareness, action, suffering, karma.