To understand the anatomy of desire, let us first discuss the anatomy of a thought. The function of our mind is to think, to create thoughts. These thoughts are triggered either by an information that it gets through our senses or even based on past memories and experiences stored within it. This thought, that is simply an imagination of mind, to remain alive needs energy, otherwise it would die or would not be able to take birth in the first place.

So, to keep a thought alive, and even to give it a birth, mind summons energy from our system. Just like a car needs fuel energy to get started and keep running, similarly our mind consumes energy of our system to create and carry on the thinking process.

This summoning of energy by mind causes an upsurge of energy within us, a sort of restlessness, a tension, is felt. The energy having risen, now requires a release, a burn, a consumption. In case the intensity of summoning by the mind is low, the energy would get released slowly through the process of thinking. However in case the intensity is high, it would also require an action or expression so as to get released.

Every such upsurge of energy gives rise to an associated emotion that we are able to feel as anger, love, joy, happiness and so on.

I see Johnny who owes me 5000 bucks for last two years but despite repeated reminders has not returned them back. On his first look, my mind immediately causes an upsurge of energy resulting into a thought, an associated emotion of anger that I am able to feel in my blood, that is further strengthened by further thinking fueled by further summoning of energy by mind and a vicious cycle is formed.

Now if the intensity of my thinking and consequent upsurge of energy is very high, it would cause a lot of energy to rise and of course to burn such a huge quota of energy I need to act. Then I may engage in an altercation with the guy or may even start to physically fight with him! I simply need a release of energy and this time thinking is not enough to release this huge energy that my mind has summoned. I need action.

This upsurge of energy caused due to summoning by the mind is called a desire. And that leads to the inference that our every thought, every action is based out of a desire! Without desire we can’t think, can’t act, can’t survive in this world.