Guest guest Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 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.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 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.) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 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! ______________________________\ ____ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents./mailbeta/newmail_tools.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 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 ________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents./mailbeta/newmail_tools.html BASKARAN.C.S Once upon a time there was 1 GB storage on Mail. Click here for happy ending! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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