Weekly Definition - vAsanA

[Guest guest]

A behavioural tendency is called a vAsanA in Sanskrit, literally

meaning wishing or desiring but used in Advaita in the sense of the

sub-conscious or latent tendencies in one's nature that will have

their way eventually, like it or not.

 

Edward de Bono, of `lateral thinking' fame describes a model that is

helpful in thinking about this (Mechanism of Mind. Edward de Bono,

Viking, 1969, ISBN 0-140-21445-3). If you take a jelly (Am. jello),

solidified and turned out onto a plate, and you trickle very hot water

onto the top, it will run off onto the plate and leave behind a faint

channel where the hot water melted the jelly. If you now pour more hot

water, it will tend to run into the same channels as before, since

these offer the line of least resistance, and deepen the channels. If

this is done repeatedly, very deep channels will form and it will

become difficult, if not impossible, to get the water to run anywhere

else. The equivalent of an entrenched habit has been formed.

 

This tendency to act in a certain way, in a given situation, is called

a vAsanA. The less aware we are at the moment of action, the more

likely it is that we will act in that way. If we are alert in the

moment, with our intellect able to discriminate between alternative

courses of action, then it is possible that the innate tendency may be

overcome. Just as the channels in the jelly have been formed by the

earlier pouring on of water, so our vAsanA -s are formed by our past

actions.

 

The terms vAsanA and saMskAra are, to a large degree, used almost

interchangeably. Correctly speaking, vAsanA refers to unconscious

impressions, knowledge derived from memory, desires and longing,

mistaken inclinations and so on, i.e. there is a generally negative

interpretation to the term. In the case of saMskAra, there is a sense

of cleansing or purification – the root saM means `auspicious' – and

their operation and resolution enable us to cleanse ourselves of sin

in preparation for enlightenment.

 

(The above extracts are from The Book of One, Dennis Waite, O Books

2003. ISBN 1 903816 41 6.)

[Guest guest]

My teacher explains that vasana-s are all misdirected seeking of

happiness - misdirected, since happiness is sought in the objective,

which is never permanent.

 

Learning this, the vasana can become and aid to practice. One can

notice the tendency, remember that it is a search for happiness and

that lasting happiness can only be found within. This naturally turns

the mind within.

 

Learning that happiness really lies within is the key to dispassion.

If we think that happiness is found in anything objective, we will

hold to the objective 'reality.'

 

So investigate for yourself, 'What is the source of hapiness?'

 

Not two,

Richard

 

advaitin , " advaitins " <advaitins wrote:

>

> A behavioural tendency is called a vAsanA in Sanskrit, literally

> meaning wishing or desiring but used in Advaita in the sense of the

> sub-conscious or latent tendencies in one's nature that will have

> their way eventually, like it or not.

>

> (The above extracts are from The Book of One, Dennis Waite, O Books

> 2003. ISBN 1 903816 41 6.)

>

[Guest guest]

So investigate for yourself, 'What is the source of

hapiness?'

 

Clearly, the source of happiness cannot be other than

within. I can't, for example, desire a BMW, believing

it will bring happiness, and have the BMW say to me

" I'll provide your happiness. " It isn't a two way

street. The things in the " outer world " don't come to

me and say anything about " themselves " .

 

The " world " doesn't come to me and say anything about

itself whatsoever. It doesn't come to me and say " I am

thus and such, x or y " . It doesn't say it's good or

bad old or new or anything at all! Only my ignorance

acquired through parents, school, societies (all of

them) etc., can possible delude me into thinking that

there IS an outer world of dicrete, separate entities.

I say or think or conceptualize and DIVIDE and create

boudaries and project all that onto the " outer

world " --and then I wonder why I'm depressed, unhappy,

unenlightened, caught in karma and on and on and on!!

The joke is always on me!But I can never confuse the

levels. There is the relative and the absolute.

Relatively, there are separate things, boudaries etc

which I must respect. Absolutely, there are not. Lol

at this necessary dualism which isn't really dualism

at all!

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

hare krishna namaskarams.

 

Steve Stoker <otnac6 wrote:

Relatively, there are separate things, boudaries etc

which I must respect. Absolutely, there are not. Lol

at this necessary dualism which isn't really dualism

at all!

 

 

quite true.with in time space concept everything is relative and dualism exist

as necessary evil or good!!. but happiness is some thing that is soley according

to the attitude of the person with the outer world. it depends on what u seek

for happiness either perishables or nonperishables. permanent happiness is with

in you to be recognised as such. that is being desireless and accepting what is

given to you, an order in which you are a partof the system.

 

 

 

may the lord bless us to find that happiness

baskaran

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BASKARAN.C.S

 

 

 

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