Hari OM
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality.
This month we are looking more closely at SHREYAS and PREYAS. Today, let us concentrate on the second of these words.
Last week you were shown the dictionary chart with meanings for shreyas. The observant will have noted the usage was mostly as an adjective or a noun, but that there was one indecisive usage; 'rather'. What would shreyas be 'rather than'?
Preyas is again used as a baby's name and is frequently translated as 'most loving' or 'affectionate'. This reflects the more visceral and impulsive quality of preyas. You will see here in the shabdkosh meanings, there are a lot fewer offered than for shreyas. The one which pertains most directly, particularly for the saadhaka, is 'most desirable'.
When we talk of shreyas and preyas in Vedanta, we are referring to the choices of life. If we are tending to predominantly preyas, we will be not over-analysing our choices and tending to a loose, perhaps undisciplined lifestyle.
Preyas wants the quick fix and the path of least resistance. Preyas wants the tasty and the intoxicating. Preyas - wants…
That is the key to this. You may think of it as having the fairy on one shoulder and the imp on the other. If you subscribe to the general notion that fairies have only our good at heart, they will guide us for our betterment and improvement and with the long-term outcomes in view. The imp is mischevious and even dangerous, pushing us to not worry about the consequences to ourselves or others, that we can always say sorry and live another day.
The problem with that is we rarely actually do say sorry - at least with any degree of contriteness and humility. What is more, the worst damage is to ourselves and saying sorry won't fix anything. What fixes things is to act better, with shreyas in mind, in the future.
Therefore, shreyas is to be opted for RATHER than preyas if we are truly determined upon self-improvement and spiritual advancement.
