On the Creative Force of Desire in Classical Indian Thought
In Indian thought, desire is considered a force at the very heart of existence, capable of dividing and shaping the primordial formless unity. The Vedic scriptures address the role desire plays in creating the universe and its capacity to dictate different forms of life. At the same time, these ancient texts grapple with hard questions concerning the relationship between desire, action, knowledge, and freedom. This article explores the creative force of desire in classical Indian thought by analyzing some of the earliest occurrences of the term kāma (desire) in Sanskrit literature. The article invites its readers to embark on a philosophical excursion through the extensive Indian discourse on desire in the Vedic hymns, the Upaniṣadic treatises, the great epics, the Laws of Manu, the early works of Mahākāvya, and the classical Buddhist narratives. The author’s main argument pertains to the structural similarities between the cosmological function of desire in Indian mythology and its existential significance in philosophical accounts of the human condition.
Dr. Nir Feinberg is a Fellow of the Martin Buber Society of Fellows at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He specializes in Indian Philosophy, Buddhist Literature, and Phenomenology. His research focuses on the history and philosophy of emotions in India.
