The Role of Desire in Life's Success: An Analysis of Vethathiri Maharishi's "Moralization of Desires"
Abstract: Vethathiri Maharishi's "Moralization of Desires" (MOD) reconceptualizes the human motivational engine. Rather than advocating the suppression or eradication of desire, which he regards as both impossible and unnecessary, MOD transforms desire from an unconscious, reactive force into a consciously examined and ethically aligned driver of human flourishing. This paper examines the doctrinal foundations, operational mechanics, and multilevel implications of MOD within the introspective framework of Simplified Kundalini Yoga (SKY). Drawing on Maharishi's primary texts and a contemporary academic analysis, it argues that the moralization of desire is a critical variable distinguishing life of perpetual frustration from lives of sustainable success, relational harmony, and inner peace. The paper sets out MOD's four-step examination procedure, its proposed parallels with cognitive reappraisal and decentering, and its claimed implications for mental health, family life, and social harmony, and it identifies the empirical work needed to test these claims.
Keywords: desire; moralization of desires; Vethathiri Maharishi; Simplified Kundalini Yoga (SKY); introspection; meditation; success; ethical psychology
How to Cite?: M. Muthukumerasan, "The Role of Desire in Life's Success: An Analysis of Vethathiri Maharishi's "Moralization of Desires"", Volume 15 Issue 11, November 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 279-282, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261107155926, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261107155926