To Effect Change Understand Your Habits

Every action leaves an impression on the mind. The trace it leaves is deepened by every repeated similar action. This develops into a channel, through which thoughts of a particular pattern flow. This subtle, imperceptible residue that resides in the mind is known as vasana.

The habit for the proverbial morning cup of tea, begins with the first sip. With no idea about the taste, fragrance, aroma or addictive nature of the beverage, the uninitiated succumbs to the first cup; relishes the taste, develops a sense of joy and before long has joined the tea lovers club! Thereafter, there is the longing for the steaming hot cup of tea. This is the birth of a desire, which gives rise to an action. Gradually the repeated action manifests into a habit – a vasana!

In today’s age of consumerism hordes of advertisements assail the senses. We find them plastered on billboards at airports, railway stations and other often frequented public places. They enter our homes through TV screens – from cars to gadgets, to men’s suiting, to up market residential villas – the list is endless. To sell this multifarious range of products, is always, a beautiful woman. This relentless bombardment of the senses, soon captivates the gullible and the demon called desire takes birth. In time, this leads to action and a vasana is born!

Vasanas are of three kinds: loka vasana, deha vasana and Shastra vasana.

Lok vasana is the need to be accepted. Most of us have the desire to conform. ‘Peer pressure’ has a strong pull. Bound by it we are forced to live a lifestyle, which sometimes can border on extravagance. A glaring example is the flamboyant marriage ceremonies we witness, often with scant regard for financial constraints.

Deha vasana is the obsession with the body, to the extent that today it borders on the dangerous. Living in the constant fear of ageing, we subject the body to face lifts and other age defying techniques. Prone to comfort, we pamper the body. International travelers are known to even carry their own pillows.

Shastra vasana is the desire for knowledge and learning. Though a pure vasana, a study of the scriptures, without imbibing its essence, gets us entangled in a forest of words. Mere logic leads to a never-ending web of endless discussions. The seeker has no time to either contemplate or practice the learning of meditation, leading to establishment in the Self.

Vasana is avidya or the non-apprehension of Reality, which leaves a sense of incompleteness. We feel that name, fame, wealth or pandering to the body will bridge this gap and bring us fulfillment. However, despite all we have or achieve we remain unfulfilled.

These strong impressions can only be purged by either substituting a lower vasana with a nobler one or through sadhana and knowledge.

Through the substitution route we can opt for better or less harmful habits. Substitute a cup of strong tea with herbal tea and then with ginger tea or plain hot water. The earlier vasana is then destroyed by a change of impressions.

Conscious destruction of the desire is achieved via the ‘knowledge route’. A philosopher would often go down the town’s fashion street to ‘window shop’ and return home empty handed. Whenever his wife asked the reason for this, his standard reply was, “I wanted to see all the things I did not need!”

The vasana ‘seed’ can be destroyed by diligently working on oneself. Through repeated practice our divine fragrance will emerge and eventually the dust of unhealthy habits created by desires are brushed off.

Every action leaves an impression on the mind. The trace it leaves is deepened by every repeated similar action. This develops into a channel, through which thoughts of a particular pattern flow. This subtle, imperceptible residue that resides in the mind is known as vasana.

The habit for the proverbial morning cup of tea, begins with the first sip. With no idea about the taste, fragrance, aroma or addictive nature of the beverage, the uninitiated succumbs to the first cup; relishes the taste, develops a sense of joy and before long has joined the tea lovers club! Thereafter, there is the longing for the steaming hot cup of tea. This is the birth of a desire, which gives rise to an action. Gradually the repeated action manifests into a habit – a vasana!

In today’s age of consumerism hordes of advertisements assail the senses. We find them plastered on billboards at airports, railway stations and other often frequented public places. They enter our homes through TV screens – from cars to gadgets, to men’s suiting, to up market residential villas – the list is endless. To sell this multifarious range of products, is always, a beautiful woman. This relentless bombardment of the senses, soon captivates the gullible and the demon called desire takes birth. In time, this leads to action and a vasana is born!

Vasanas are of three kinds: loka vasana, deha vasana and Shastra vasana.

Lok vasana is the need to be accepted. Most of us have the desire to conform. ‘Peer pressure’ has a strong pull. Bound by it we are forced to live a lifestyle, which sometimes can border on extravagance. A glaring example is the flamboyant marriage ceremonies we witness, often with scant regard for financial constraints.

Deha vasana is the obsession with the body, to the extent that today it borders on the dangerous. Living in the constant fear of ageing, we subject the body to face lifts and other age defying techniques. Prone to comfort, we pamper the body. International travelers are known to even carry their own pillows.

Shastra vasana is the desire for knowledge and learning. Though a pure vasana, a study of the scriptures, without imbibing its essence, gets us entangled in a forest of words. Mere logic leads to a never-ending web of endless discussions. The seeker has no time to either contemplate or practice the learning of meditation, leading to establishment in the Self.

Vasana is avidya or the non-apprehension of Reality, which leaves a sense of incompleteness. We feel that name, fame, wealth or pandering to the body will bridge this gap and bring us fulfillment. However, despite all we have or achieve we remain unfulfilled.

These strong impressions can only be purged by either substituting a lower vasana with a nobler one or through sadhana and knowledge.

Through the substitution route we can opt for better or less harmful habits. Substitute a cup of strong tea with herbal tea and then with ginger tea or plain hot water. The earlier vasana is then destroyed by a change of impressions.

Conscious destruction of the desire is achieved via the ‘knowledge route’. A philosopher would often go down the town’s fashion street to ‘window shop’ and return home empty handed. Whenever his wife asked the reason for this, his standard reply was, “I wanted to see all the things I did not need!”

The vasana ‘seed’ can be destroyed by diligently working on oneself. Through repeated practice our divine fragrance will emerge and eventually the dust of unhealthy habits created by desires are brushed off.