Chapter 7 Rooting Out Desire?

Bhagavan Das’s approach in “The Science of the Emotions,” which advocates for the transmutation of desire rather than its suppression, offers a nuanced perspective on how we might achieve both spiritual growth and intellectual advancement. This perspective aligns with a broader understanding of human development that embraces the full spectrum of human experience, including emotions, as essential to our evolution.

7.1 The Danger of Repressing Desire

The idea of completely extinguishing or repressing personal desires and emotions, aiming for a state of detached objectivity, does indeed carry risks. While detachment and objectivity can be valuable in certain contexts, especially in scientific inquiry and ethical decision-making, the total repression of emotion and desire can lead to a diminished capacity for empathy, compassion, and connection with others. Emotional experiences are not just distractions from rational thought; they are integral to the human condition, informing our morals, ethics, and sense of justice.

7.2 Transmutation of Desire

Transmuting desire, as Das suggests, involves redirecting our emotional and desirous energies towards higher, more altruistic goals rather than seeking to eliminate these energies altogether. This process acknowledges the power of desire as a force for motivation and change, channeling it in ways that contribute to personal growth, social welfare, and spiritual enlightenment. By transforming our desires into aspirations for knowledge, wisdom, and service to others, we can harness the energy of desire for positive ends.

7.3 Cultivating Wise Compassion

Wise compassion — or compassion informed by understanding, insight, and discernment — is a quality that emerges not from the absence of emotion but from a deep engagement with it. It involves recognizing and empathizing with the suffering of others while possessing the clarity and commitment to act effectively to alleviate that suffering. Cultivating wise compassion requires a balance between emotional sensitivity and rational thought, allowing us to connect with others deeply and respond to the world’s complexities with both heart and mind.

7.4 The Real Peril for Humanity

The peril lies not in the existence of desire and emotion but in the failure to engage with and understand them constructively. An education or spiritual practice that seeks to eliminate emotion and desire might produce individuals who are technically proficient or intellectually sharp but lack the emotional depth and ethical orientation necessary to apply their skills for the greater good. The challenge for humanity is to develop frameworks — whether in education, technology, or spirituality — that recognize the value of emotional intelligence and the constructive potential of desire. By learning to transmute our desires and engage with our emotions wisely, we can foster a future where intellectual achievements and technological advancements are guided by compassion, empathy, and a deep sense of interconnectedness.