Mental Wellbeing and the Kama Sutra: A Synergy Between Hedonic and Eudaimonic Approaches

Kama Sutra and Mental Well-being have been misinterpreted in recent times. Kama Sutra has been reduced to mere positions of sexual intercourse, by most translated versions of the text including the ones that have been referred to for the chapter, namely, “The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana” by Burton and Arbuthnot (1883) and “The Complete Kama Sutra” by Danielou (1994), while Mental Well-Being is subjected to the notion that Hedonic and Eudaimonic traditions are totally distinct, with nothing binding them together. As discussions on these ostensibly dissimilar approaches were taking place, Indian philosophers, through texts like Kama Sutra, had already developed guiding principles that united these two approaches to Mental Well-Being. Owing to the disproportionate emphasis on sexual positions, which only apply to a small proportion of the entire Kama Sutra, it is frequently viewed from a hedonistic lens. The Kama Sutra, in reality, discusses a great deal of nuances and subtleties in the form of metaphors about the art of living, which may be better understood by incorporating certain eudaimonic concepts. It throws light on the importance of virtue, wealth, and pleasure with regard to the society at that time and how an interplay of these can carve out a path towards transcendence, thereby, tying it to eudaimonic concepts of meaningfulness and elevation of experiences. The chapter aims to explain how Kama Sutra has skilfully combined the two approaches of well-being. The brilliance of the text was highlighted when several decades later research supported the idea that eudaimonia and hedonia function in a synergistic manner and that eudaimonia and hedonia should not be treated as mutually exclusive, something Kama Sutra has explained through its pursuit of pleasure. Kama Sutra has emphasised on the interaction between the forces of love and sex in the attainment of one’s full potential, transcendence and finding meaning. The intertwined nature of love and sex has been affirmed by modern neuroscience, showcasing the enduring relevance of Kama Sutra’s insights, despite predating such advancements. Indian Philosophers, at a time when brain mechanisms could not be understood with the aid of science, helped the masses understand how a man practising Dharma, Artha and Kama enjoys happiness, indicating that a lack of Kama will be a hindrance in the path of attaining both happiness and Moksha, a higher-order transcendental pleasure. The fact that individuals of that era were encouraged to engage with its intricately detailed content, which centres on the pursuit of maximising pleasure, underscores Kama Sutra’s overarching goal of enabling humans to harness their advanced cognitive faculties to regulate and channel primitive sexual instincts towards long-term advantages. By promoting this kind of comprehensive self-awareness, the text guides individuals to effectively convert fleeting, immediate gratification into a more profound and enduring state of well-being, thereby effectively harmonising the realms of hedonia and eudaimonia.