Guest guest Posted August 15, 2000 Report Share Posted August 15, 2000 Hi,<br><br>I have been thinking a lot lately about samskaras. In Stephen Cope’s recent book, Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, he describes samskaras as “energy cysts” in the body. Though these knots seem to find their original cause in psychological trauma, the way they evolve in the body requires that they be approached through Hatha Yoga in order to release them and their psychological content.<br><br>I also have studied some Vipassana Meditation (as taught by S. N. Goenka), and in that tradition samskaras (or sankharas in Pali) are described as reactions of craving or aversion to any stimulus and the resulting conditioning of those reactions (producing more reactions, etc). Though the arising of a sankhara is accompanied by sensation in the body, they seem to be primarily mental entities that are approached through the techniques of sitting meditation.<br><br>I’m curious to know if these traditions are really talking about the same type of phenomena. Does every samskara/sankhara have both mental and physical properties or are there different types oriented towards different aspects of our beings? Can any samskara/sankhara be approached through either sitting mediation or yoga or are there different types that require the different approaches for them to be released? Or am I just perceiving an artificial distinction (though there at least seems to be a difference in orientation in the disciplines I am referring to).<br><br>I appreciate any insights and opinions, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2000 Report Share Posted August 15, 2000 perhaps if you allow your practice of asana to become a meditation (the bandhas will serve you immeasurably here, yama and niyama being indispensable too), and your sitting meditation to follow and be based upon the principles of asana your question will be answered in the practice.<br><br>patanjali says that asana is joyful steadiness in the body free from tension manifesting the infinite beyond duality. again the bandhas will serve you immeasurably here, yama&niyama required. <br><br>and then he says that within asana pranayama is the release of inhalation, exhalation and transition by interpenetrating all their characteristics until they become unhindered and subtle transcending the duality of the breath, uncovering the inner light and readying the mind for meditation. yama&niyama still guiding your way.<br><br>then, he says, the unravelling of and release from samskaras can begin until all hindrances and karma are burned up in the quintessential dew of samadhi.<br><br>yama&niyama according to my personal prejudice: sensitivity, honesty, openness, presence, generosity, comittment, contentment, passion, selfawareness and devotion.<br><br>patanjali he also say, the practice of yoga has eight (ashta) limbs (anga). that includes yama&niyama as part of the practice. not something separate, though it may be separable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2000 Report Share Posted August 16, 2000 Check out: A RE-APPRAISAL OF PATANJALI'S YOGA-SUTRAS IN THE LIGHT OF THE BUDDHA'S TEACHING by S.N. Tandon <br><br>This can be ordered through the Vipassana Research Institute (the Goenka camp). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2000 Report Share Posted August 16, 2000 Thanks for the recommendation. I just ordered it from www.pariyatti.com. This looks fascinating, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2000 Report Share Posted August 16, 2000 A really good book on the subject of samskaras is;<br><br>"Regression Past-Life Therapy for Here and Now Freedom"<br>By Dr. Samuel Sagan<br><br>It goes right into the topic giving his insights and those of the Indian Tradition.<br>: ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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