Kama (Buddhism)

Those inhabiting the kamaloka, the lowest of the triloka or realms of which the universe is comprised, have an awareness of which desire towards objects of sense and joy at satisfaction of such desire is a characteristic. Five kinds of desire are defined, which relate to the five organs of sense – smell, taste, sight, touch and hearing.

One of the five hindrances on the spiritual path – nivarana. One of three kinds of craving – trisna. As kama-trisna, the fourth of the ten fetters which, in Hinayana Buddhism, bind the individual to this cycle. Together with craving for existence – bhava-trisna – and craving for annihilation of the self, constitutes the second of the four noble truths, pratiya samutpada. Together with rupa-trisna (craving for fine-material form) and arupa-trisna (craving for existence beyond form), related to the triloka – three worlds.