Namaste Dada! Lots of love! Dada, what is the difference between 'Vaasana' and desire?
Dada:
I suppose we deal with this topic around Bodh 3. Typically, we talk of 'Sanskaar' or impressions, Desires and 'Vaasana', all of which determine our personality and propel us towards certain action. Of these, 'Vaasana' operates at a deeper level. It is a form of Shakti (energy) that determines how we express ourselves and connect with the world around us. Our 'Vaasana's can be understood as a general set of deep, unmanifest desires that have not necessarily achieved specific expression in our lives. However, desires are more specific - I want to be rich, I want to visit this place and so on. Desires could either be fleeting (I feel like having an ice cream) or firm (I want to become a doctor). Our 'Vaasana's stand behind our specific, tangible desires and define how we express ourselves to the world. Even when our desires diminish, 'Vaasana's remain. When you go inward, you will become sensitive to these 'Vaasana's - that there is something vague within us that is governing our actions in the world. It is also possible in deep meditation to withdraw the energy of our 'Vaasana's from the world and channelize it completely inward, towards the seat of the Divine. This state is called 'Antarmukha' - facing inward. In this state, the mind/body complex stops responding to external stimuli, just as how we become unresponsive to external sounds in deep sleep. The major difference between deep sleep and being 'Antarmukha' is that in the latter, one is not asleep but completely aware, even if unresponsive. When you sometimes hear 'Dadashreeji is now Antarmukhi', this is what it means. This state is also called 'Turiya'.
Let us revise the four states of being. The first is 'Jaagrit' - the wakeful state. Next is 'Swapna' - the dream state. The third is 'Sushupti' - the state of deep sleep. These three states are accessible to and experienced by everybody. The fourth state, which only a few are able to experience, is 'Turiya'. In this state, you are completely aware that you are withdrawn from the world and are able to see your inner self clearly. In other words, you can exactly see where you reach after you fall asleep. Therefore, 'Jaagrit' and 'Turiya' are two ends of the spectrum - the former in which you experience the external world, the latter in which you experience your inner world. As one slowly comes out of 'Turiya', one can observe with complete awareness, all the transitions into the other states ('Sushupti' and 'Swapna') before waking up into the 'Jaagrit' state.
This whole experience of reaching 'Turiya' and back is very revealing and blissful. Will you travel there with me? (Smiles). The problem is that we remain attached to the 'Jaagrit' or conscious/wakeful state. We need courage and an attitude of surrender (to the Guru or the Divine) to detach from the three comfortable/known states, and walk into the yet unknown. But remember that there is nothing unusual or miraculous about going into 'Turiya'. It is, in fact, our natural state of being, albeit that which is forgotten by many. It is as natural as eating when hungry. It is definitely worth experiencing this state at least once in your lifetime.
Finally, I will reiterate that wherever you are in your spiritual journey, whatever exalted states you might seek to experience, you must never relinquish your duties in the world. If you are able to give your best in everything during the day, empty your mind and sleep soundly at night, you would be a model human being. That is my wish for all of you.
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