Tagged: sanskara
The theory of the Self
When we discover how a human being “works,” we could see that we interpret information according to a set of previously learned behavior and act accordingly.
For instance, if your child tells you that you are not as intelligent as he is; You may react in anger. You may even punish your child for being so disrespectful with you. On the other hand, if your boss at work tells you the same and he has the power to fire you on the spot, you may not react with anger. You may try to find out the reasons behind that statement.
Same situation, different people and circumstances. My reaction will be according to what I have learned, what I find as beneficial. That is the bottom line.
In theory, there are names for those components dictating my activities: The mind, the intellect and the sanskaras. The mind perceives information about what is going on. The intellect decides how to react on that information and the sanskaras are those learned behaviors from the past, which could determine my action unless the intellect interferes.
When there is such a division, religions and moral reforms will be made to voice a particular “component” as being more important than the others.
There are the ones who believe in the mind. The mind is the container of that perceived information. If that information is able to break the stability of the mind; that means that our mind is not strong enough. Thus, as long as our mind is fully stable, whatever enters into it, will not create havoc. In this position, welcoming perceptions without judgment is the “right” attitude. In this way there is an alignment with totality.
Then we have those who believe in the intellect. Here is where “moral codes” are necessary. The intellect will learn some rules and regulations on how to behave in life. The intellect will intercept any information coming from the mind and then will decide a course of action.
Is this “good or bad”? The aim is to follow as close as possible those rules and regulations which are deemed to be “right,” or “good.”
Finally, we have those who believe in the sanskaras as the thing to change. Sanskaras come from previous life experiences from another reincarnation. There are those who will work through those by using hypnosis or any other method to “submerge” the non desired sanskaras. Our predisposition to act now as we do, comes from the past. Thus, sanskaras are nothing else but stored actions of the past. Those activities came from the interaction of mind and intellect.
In self-observation, many will start their self-transformation by emphasizing one of the three components of the human psyche.
Nevertheless, when there is greater understanding on life, we could see that a human psyche is not separated from the totality of life.
When we realize that life is like a movie, then with this realization, we should see that it doesn’t matter how the movie is; for it is what it is.
Those sanskaras are just part of the movie. To “submerge” a sanskara will not do anything on the quality of my intellect and mind. Submerging is not changing a behavior.
If we concentrate on the “intellect,” and its ability to grasp a particular “code of good behavior,” we will find out that emotions will be in the way of things. Here there is a “law” which I need to obey even though my sanskaras (represented by emotions) are pushing me to do something else. This is the inner battle. It becomes a tiring inner fight.
That is why it is suggested to deal with both: The intellect and the sanskaras.
However, we create a dependency for a perceived change could be maintained as long as the intellect adheres to a specific set of rules and provided that the sanskaras are continually submerged.
For most individuals, “submerging” a non desired sankara means to deal with actions related with the first and second chakra. That is survival and pleasure. The way to submerge a sanskara from those first levels, is by activating higher chakras, such as the third one (will power) and the fourth one (heart.)
The heart is used as needed to transform the “lower” inclinations. Nevertheless, “real” change will not occur unless the heart is used on a regular basis, thus creating a new sanskara.
In my own experience, there is a need to strengthen the mind. That means that our complexes, hang-ups and learned behaviors need to be broken from our psyche in order for that change in the self to be permanent and lasting without the use of any ritual or practice to maintain that change.
In the “reality” of experience, names such as “mind,” “intellect,” and “sanskara,” are not important. Their function is not important either.
What is important is to realize that “my perceptions,” are colored by my previous learned behaviors. Thus, “my perceptions” are limited. Then, the mind is tuned into becoming aware, to observe itself without emitting judgment, for the perception of my own movie does not need any “critics,” but just to know that it is a movie. It is at that point that we could change the movie “channel” and watch and experience something else.
Question: After observing the self closely, I have realized the two big hurdles in my spiritual journey are dependency and getting influenced. So, whenever I tried to work on it, either I start rejecting other personalities around me or I get flows with them. Baba often says that at this point of time in drama, a human cannot give constant happiness to other human. So, shall we reject the feelings of happiness we getting from others, so that we do not become dependent on that energy to sustain us or let just accept whatever is coming for now without thinking much about it. But, then the problem comes when that feeling changes into neediness and start affecting other things. Why do mind always looking out for someone, once we have found ourselves and God? This sanskaar of dependency is so deep that even after telling the mind to be dependent on God, it keeps pondering out. Your comments and suggestions on it.
Thank you for your great question!
Dear soul,
Rejection of any kind will just hinder our spiritual progress. By rejecting we are giving force to that which we reject. The issue always comes back to our own neediness, our own opinions and our own ideals. There was no point in the cycle when a “human being could give constant happiness to another human.” The issue now is that we are “empty” and we want to get that fulfillment from someone. We even want to fulfill that neediness through God.
Dear soul, This knowledge is the legacy that God has given us. Through that knowledge we can become self sovereign, a master of the self. At that point, there is no more neediness, but then we can share that completeness with others. That is love. If there is someone taking, that is neediness. If there is someone giving, that is ego. It is “Natural” to share as an expression of the self and not as a self imposed duty because it is “good.”
What you are experiencing is a sign of honest progress. That is the realization of our own neediness. Finding God does not mean that everything “will be alright,” it means that it is the time to start working on the self so we can become “Like the Father.” Not a dependent being.
In my experience, solitude is the best medicine. Until we are not content with our own company, alone; we will be longing for others. Not everyone will be able to go through that, but in my experience; that has helped a lot to realize the “dependency game.” In that space sit down, go beyond thoughts of our silly mind, go even beyond our own feelings and recognize that which is complete, your own self. Then changes will happen naturally, for you have to find the source of your own completeness. You are already complete. A soul just like God, but surrounded by the clouds of thoughts and emotions while living in sheer unconsciousness. We need to awake. That is what the BK path is for.
One last point; “telling the mind something,” will not do anything. Telling ourselves something, will not do anything. There has to be will power on wanting to know the self despite the outside distractions. We already know God, right? and God has giving us this knowledge. Now we have to put it in practice, that is know the self by experiencing it; then the job will be done.
As you can see, knowing God is not enough. It is the beginning of the journey.
Best wishes!
Question: Dear brother, As I am practicing the soul conscious/awareness of the point stage , I find thoughts are what create the discomfort or pain at the mental level, I understand that is due to karmic settlement process. My question is if a thought is coming to create pain or discomfort, If I am at the conscious level (awareness of the point), where I could easily eliminate the thought that is creating the pain, does that mean the karmic account related to that thought is settled? Or will it come back at a later point in my life?
Thank you for your question! 🙂
A thought becomes repetitive if you give that thought some sort of value. Otherwise, that thought will not repeat or if it comes up you will not feel concerned about it.
Therefore, the karmic account is not related at the thought level but at the sanskara level.
Let us say that I think about this person on a continuous basis. That person just triggers a sanskara in me. It may be that I see that person as charming, beautiful, etc. The sanskara of “falling in love” appears; which shows neediness, something which hasn’t been fulfilled.
Therefore, what is usually known as “healing the heart,” is a temporary patch with a particular person, which we call “karmic account.” But the culprit of it, is a sanskara.
Once that sanskara is submerged through the experience of yoga while in the practice of “the point,” even if the thought about that person emerges, it will not cause you sorrow anymore and at that point, that thought will start to vanish. You could apply this to any situation which is causing you mental sorrow.
A thought causes sorrow once we dwell on it and create an internal movie in “automatic pilot.” Then we add feelings which will make that thought stronger and therefore, we give that thought “life” to reappear at any time, even if we can get rid of it temporarily. However, we need to submerge the sanskara to completely heal the “weakness” to answer your question. That process takes “time” but as BapDada points out, the intensity of our practice could “speed things up.” (Tapasya.)
Best wishes!
Exploring the Depth of Living 