Vasana, what is it?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

The term vasana is mentioned in two threads of this forum.

One is “Energetic healing bodywork dialog” and the other “Marijuana and yoga”.

I did search the internet but found little to nothing.
So far I think it is some kind of addiction, what draws on the subject’s energy. I would be interested what a vasana is, how can be identified, and if it is possible to be treated.

Specifically, I am interested if to be irresistibly drawn to a person, against one’s better judgement could be categorized as vasana ?

#2

Namaste Hubert,
This is in line with what I’ve learned from Mukunda.vasana
You can see how this agrees with the context of the two posts you mentioned.

Blessings,

#3

You don’t know how grateful I am for this link ! :slight_smile: It really helps.
Thank you !

#4

Dear Friend,
vasana is a hindi word derived its root from sanskrit.All the languages in india have there roots in sanskrit.Vasana is used in the of sense person having excess sexual desire or having the tendencies to generally enjoy or indulge in too much physical/sexulal pleasures even thinking . In hindi bhog(related to physical/sexual desires) prakriti (Nature) is called vasana.

#5

Thank you Rashmi.
I was a bit down yesterday and my issues appeared more heavy than usual. This just strenghtens my believe that yoga -self awarness will help me deal with whatever I carry. (Though I am not sure yet, how … but I feel things will work themselves out somehow, they always do)

#6

[I]“Through its own efforts, the mind assumes the shape of any object, it concentrates itself upon. If it thinks of a woman, it assumes the shape of a woman. This is termed Vritti Tadakara. If it thinks of God or Brahman, Brahmakara Vritti develops. In the former case, Rajas (passion) will be infused into the mind; while in the latter, Sattva (purity) will be infused.”[/I]

Source

How can we think of God when He is unthinkable ?

#7

Chapter 20

#8

How can we think of God when He is unthinkable ?[/quote]

It is impossible to form a mental image of God, because it is your very own essence and as such is the realisation of [I][B]I am[/B][/I] prior to I am this or I am that.

#9

Pandara, you are right, of course. But that quote I gave, says, think of Brahman. My question was aimed to that statement … how can we do that if God is unthinkable ?
My answer is:
We can think of the unthinkable as a thing out of our reach. The alpinist thinks of the Himalaya, but that is just a thought. When he climbs it, than it is an experience.
Is the alpinist’s thought useless ? No, as it keeps him motivated. The mind can think of anything, and even if those thoughts will be just thoughts, they are useful, until the experience happens. Thoughts, just as food, can be of sattwic origin or can have beneficial effects on our development.

#10

Hi Hubert,

I see. Thanks for the reply, it makes a lot of sense.

Just as the person who has never tasted honey until he experience the taste, until then he can only use his mind and the creativity of his mind to imagine what honey will taste like. :slight_smile:

#11

Tell me who can give me that honey and I’ll go with him 'til the end of the world.

#12

I cannot taste it yet, but I did catch it’s scent a few times … enough to keep me interested, and that’s little said. :slight_smile: