A DIALECTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF KᾹMA, NISHKᾹMA AND SANKALPA

Abstract

Kāma or desire is the psychic pursuit of attaining any goal. This psychic pursuit is also known as kāmanā in the text of the Bhagavat Gitā. In most all Indian scriptures kama or kāmanā has been considered as the root cause of suffering and at the same time it is strongly admired that kāma is one of the Purusāthas or the values of human life. The word ‘nishkāma’ is generally construed as desireless action. But this seems absurd how can there be any action or creation without initiating a desire. So, desire is a must. So, the concept ‘nishkāma’ should be interpreted in the broad sense of attachment. We must have desires, but we should control our overriding attachment for such desires which leads to pain and suffering in our practical life. Similarly, the word ‘samkalpa’ has also double meaning as described in our scriptures. Sankalpa may mean as bounden desires which lead to the chain of desires and it also means as strong determined desire for perfection. A dialectical understanding can have an assess for the reconciliation of kāma and nishkāma in order to have the best transformation of sankalpa in our personality.