Kama as Catalyst: When Wanting More Leads to Dharma
The Vedas never said wanting was wrong. They just asked you to aim well.
We’re often told to let go of desire. To detach. To transcend. And most definitely, to stop being so "greedy".
Yet the Vedas had a more nuanced take. They didn’t condemn desire. They gave it a seat at the table.
Literally.
🧭 Kama — One of the Four Purusharthas
In Indian philosophy, every human life has four legitimate aims:
Dharma – Right action
Artha – Material prosperity
Kama – Pleasure and longing
Moksha – Liberation
Desire (Kama) is not Adharma. In fact, Kama is necessary — for love, beauty, connection, creation.
Desire fuels poetry. It drives innovation. It starts revolutions. It births worlds. (Just ask Kama Deva, who dared to awaken Shiva.)
The real question isn’t:
❌ Should you want?
It’s:
✅ Are your wants aligned with Dharma?
🙋🏽♂️ Who Am I?
I’m Anuraag Jain, a Business Consultant, Executive Coach, Ex-CTO, and Founder of GrowthVariable. I work with leaders to unlock growth and profitability while exploring ancient wisdom for modern leadership. Sometimes I get inspired by unexpected places — like anime!
♻️ Greed = Justice... in Disguise?
Earlier this week, I wrote about a provocative anime quote:
“Greed equals justice.”
It shocked me, then stuck with me.
At first glance, it felt like a capitalist slogan. Yet as I sat with it, I remembered something deeper:
Even justice begins with want.
A want for fairness.
A want for truth.
A want for a better world.
So is that... greed?
In the Vedic lens: it’s Kama. And when Kama aligns with Dharma, it becomes sacred.
🔥 Longing Isn’t Your Enemy
Let’s take some ancient stories:
🧵 Draupadi’s vow for justice after her humiliation in the Kaurava court — was that greed? Or Kama aligned with Dharma?
🌙 Kaikeyi’s manipulation of Dasharatha — a personal desire gone rogue, unrooted from Dharma.
🌸 Kama Deva’s boldness to awaken Shiva — a divine longing that literally burned, but led to transformation.
Same force. Different alignment.
Kama aimed well builds empires.
Kama aimed poorly burns them.
🎯 Your Longing Wants to Serve
When you long for wealth, impact, peace, growth — don’t shame it.
Don’t rush to silence it with “spiritual” guilt.
Instead ask:
Is this longing rooted in fear, or in contribution?
Is it about proving something — or building something?
Is it guiding me toward Dharma — or away from it?
🧠 Quiet Prompt
Where in your life is your longing asking to be dignified, not denied?
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