The Hidden Source of Vital - Spiritual Energy -2 (Kama)

The sons deprived of motherly affections and the daughters bereft of father’s love and protections are often found to lack in healthy psychological development. The presence of boys and girls both among the children augments the happy ambience of a family. The boys who have no company of sisters and similarly the girls without having brothers remain deprived of overall development of personality and risk some hindrance in mental evolution. With the emergence of youth one has to arrange for a married life. Healthy association between husband and wife together would offer natural boost to each other’s progress in all dimensions of life. In old age, affectionate interaction with the (grand) sons and (grand) daughters also provides extra sublime support to the hidden consciousness of the (grand) mothers and (grand) fathers respectively.

Renowned psychologists like Dr. Freud, though in a narrowed sense of the word, have advocated "kama" as the utmost need of human life. It is affirmed to be fulfilled in intimate interactions, amicable alliance between the opposite genders. Somehow in our country, the Sanskrit (or Hindi) word "kama" is mostly used to imply sexual pleasure or related desires. This is why it is often discarded as an erotic or obscene terminology and the concept of inevitability of kama appears debased and unacceptable to many of us. But a sane consideration of the overall meaning of the word with scientific outlook and an open mind would convey that kama is indeed an eternal necessity reflected in origin and infinite expansion –– right from the commingling of prakrati and purusha and the gross generation of life…, to the contributions of married life in the society and sustenance of the world. Finding flaws in this interpretation or countering it by some linguistic analysis etc would only be a prejudiced and futile exercise of arguments.

Unmindful and uncontrolled use of any resource is risky. Extremities or exploitation of everything should be avoided. Incontinence and greed of unwise, short-sighted people often cross limits in unchecked, insidious misuse of the faculties of sense organs. Look at the state of our tongue, for instance. Many of us have ruined its vital power in abusive, bitter and false speech and all kinds of unhealthy (though lavish) foods and invited physical and mental sufferings and economical and moral decrepitude in several respects. This is not the flaw of the natural faculties of taste and voice endowed in the tongue. If restrained, refined and used wisely, this tiny organ alone could serve great purposes in enlightened progress of our life.

The same is the case of the genitals (the sex-organs). If these are restrained carefully together with adoption of brahmcarya and the nectar of kama hidden in the sex-element is enjoyed with moral purity and cautious control, the sexual indulgence too would prove to be beneficial and fulfilling like the elixir of life. After all, careful processing and medicinal use of poison makes it a life-saving drug too. However, at the same time we must note that adulteration and ill usage of these are always detrimental and could convert even the nectar into a deadly toxin. Thus, it is not the kama, rather, its perversion and eroticism that are debauching and should be reproached and avoided. That is why God gave double job to these two Indriya (Tongue and Sex Organ)

When the relations between a daughter and father, sister and brother, or mother and son could be so sacred, happy and healthy, why would those between other kinds of social interactions between the two sexes be pernicious? Take for instance the case of husband and wife. This relationship could be most enlightening and exceptionally encouraging for unalloyed progress of both if insulated from the aberrations of sensual lust. Marriage in such cases would prove to be an excellent means of nurturing fulfilment in the lives of both the partners by healthy alliance and mutual support…. Lord Krishna had mobilized a welcome revolution in this regard.

The Indian society of those days of yore was subjected to blind traditions – even the young boys and girls were not allowed to play together. People clung to a blind conviction that meeting or interaction of men and women, of whatever age groups would lead to immoral, untoward consequences. This had darkened people’s mentality and thus captured the smiles of children too in the barrier of social absurdity; little boys and girls were not able to laugh or play together under these baseless constraints.

Lord Krishna removed these suppressive barriers and encouraged healthy alliance between the two sexes by way of organizing the blissful programmes of "Raas Lila" in which the boys and girls, men and women all used to play and dance together. He found it illogical to discriminate among humans on gender basis; so what if one section of the human society can grow moustaches and the other doesn’t. How could the difference between the anatomies of the genitals make one sex inferior or harmful to the other in any way? In fact, this difference in the physical and psychological nature of the two sexes is a remarkable symbol of Nature’s art that offers soothing mutual complementarities’ among them. The sick mentality that the two different sexes would commit mistakes and indulge in obscene, amoral acts whenever they associate is an extreme of mistrust of humans towards themselves.

Chastity of conduct, virtuous development of character could be ensured only by refinement from within. This demands inculcation of sraddha prudence and farsightedness towards noble ideals and human dignity. Social norms should not prohibit healthy alliance, interaction and collaboration between the two sexes; else the society would be deprived of the great benefits available from the joint efforts, mutual support of its two major pillars. Lord Krishna had propagated this message effectively by his enchanting “Raas Lilas”.

The spiritual science of sublime power of the sex-element accords sacred interactions between man and woman. The intimacy of their relationship as married couple could also incorporate sensual connections and mutual satisfaction of sex. There should be no restriction on healthy association, joint efforts and social unions of men and women in general. As two or more men or women can share the joy of friendship without any risk or suspicion, the same way men and women could also maintain unstained, respectful alliance. This natural, serene, sober association should not be prohibited.

The mutually supplementing powers of prana, soma and agni, and swaha and swadha in man and woman are of unique biological, psychological and spiritual importance. The conjugation of these sublime elements holds limitless potentials of genesis, creation and blissful evolution at higher realms of Nature. Reproduction or growth of population is a very crude and negligible expression of this astonishing effect. These two subliminal streams of the source of consciousness and manifestation of Nature should be recognized and realized through the deeper science of spirituality. Sagacity of human mind should check the risk of tragic decline and extinction of human species by preventing the perverted dissipation of the immense energy of kama – hidden in the sex-element – in erotic passions. This sublime power should rather be channelized wisely for the overall augmentation of the physical, mental and spiritual strength of mankind.

The activity of sex-element in copulation is a subtle biological process. The sensual lust and excitement associated with copulation could be vulgar and shameful. Erotic description of the same could be detrimental and should therefore be avoided. However, knowing the roots of this process in Nature, deciphering the higher dimensions of the vital force and the deeper science of kama, is neither untoward nor vulgar. It is indeed a part of the Panchagni Vidya – the Vedic science of genesis and evolution of prana that has been lost in the mist of ignorance and tides of time. Neglect of this great knowledge has caused enough harm to our own lives and potentials. The deep knowledge of multiple aspects of the bioelectrical force and prana in the sex-elements of man and woman is dealt in the spiritual science of kama. It should be studied with same sincerity and investigative attitude as any other branch of science.

THE WORKING OF THE SEX IMPULSE

Man wishes to have children to maintain the race or line. This is the reproductive instinct. The desire to copulate proceeds from this sexual instinct. The strength of the sexual desire depends upon the sexual impulse.

According to the Gita, impulse is Vegam or force. Lord Krishna says, "He who is able to endure here on earth, before he is liberated from the body, the force born of desire and passion, he is harmonised, he is a happy man".

Impulse is a mighty force. It exerts influence on the mind. It is a force suddenly communicated to the mind.

Just as petrol or steam moves the engine, the instincts and impulses move this body. The instincts are the prime movers of all human activities. They give a push to the body and move the Indriyas to action. The instincts create habits. The instinctive impulses supply the driving power by which all mental activities are kept up. These impulses are mental forces. They operate through the mind and the intellect. They mould the life of a man. The mystery of life lies in them. The attraction towards women in men is born of Rajas. That unknown attraction and happiness in their company is the seed of the sex impulse. This attraction, which is like a bubble in the beginning, later on assumes the form of a formidable, uncontrollable wave of strong passion or sexual appetite.

You must understand the psychological working of the sex impulse. When there are itches on the body, mere scratching of them is a pleasure. The sex impulse is only a nervous itching. The satisfaction of this impulse begets a delusive pleasure, but it has a positive effect on the spiritual well-being of the person.