Hari
Om
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by
which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality
and become more congruent within our personality.
KINDLE LIFE. We continue exploring points raised by HH Pujya
Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda-ji in the publication of this name. Remember, you
can purchase, (very economically!), the book from Chinmaya
Mission Publications or if you
prefer, the Amazon Link. Thus you can read
Gurudev's words directly and bring your own voice to the discussion.
Chapter
Ten of Kindle Life looks at MECHANISM OF ACTION; what it is that compels us in
life. It is one of the great
developments of life, that Mankind has the ability to change his destiny.
Despite all the basic animal mechanisms, those feelings and responses common to
all species, Man alone has intellect - choice - with which to understand
himself, that the tendencies (vaasanas) which motivate action can be monitored
and altered and that by self-effort with persistent application of proven
techniques, he can raise himself beyond simply 'living', to knowing Life itself.
What
is behind 'action' though? Needless to say, the Rsis gave this much thought!
What needs to be understood is that action is the end result of a process which
begins with the seed of a desire in the individual. That seed is extremely subtle and is
latent. It is known as a वासनाः/vaasana. For each individual these will be
many and there are likely to be 'clusters'; that is to say lots of tendencies
with similar characteristics.
Note
that we all have lots of varied tendencies within us; not all of them are
triggered. Once germinated though, the seed prompts desire and from desire
arises thought; firstly of the 'I want..' variety and then quickly supplanted
with the 'do this or that to get it' thoughts. Then action arises. For as long as our vaasanas are present, we
will have the agitations of desire.
Vaasana is Sanskrit for 'impression' or 'fragrance'. It could equally (given this is a
conceptual language) mean 'suggestion', but this is by inference only. By use of fragrance we get 'the suggestion'
of something being present but at that point of connecting with the fragrance
there is nothing but a waft - no concrete presence.
Every
one of us has our batch of fragrances which constitute the basis of our
personality. Just as perfumes are grouped as floral, or oriental, or
musk and so on, so we have artistic, sporty, prone to theft and all such
things. The huge variety of the Human race is defined through the vaasana-s of
the individuals which make up that race. Animals too have vaasana-s but will
ever be at the mercy of their birth.
Man
has a weapon however. He can overcome himself! Yes, he has the weapon of
intellect with which to assess, understand his motivation and make decisions
about whether to continue on that path or alter direction. The success of this
will vary according to how close to his animal instinct each individual is. It
takes a determined person to work on himself; especially when it comes to
spiritual life, which can seem to demand so much of us. Consistent application
of the scriptural instructions, however, can result in the eradication of all
negative vaasanas, supplanting them first with positive ones and, finally,
removing all vaasana-s completely.
Whilst
we may be the victims of our own past there is no reason at all why we must
continue to accept that debt. We can choose to pay it off ahead of time and
work towards resetting our balance for the future. First we must see our
vaasanas, those inner hurdles which hold us back. Secondly we must accept and
forgive what cannot be changed. Thirdly
we must make concerted effort to knock over what we can and to not repeat our
errors, building for a better existence.
