[Assungusa]

What is Vasana?

vasana: (Sanskrit) "Subconscious inclination." From vas,
"living, remaining." The subliminal inclinations and habit
patterns which, as driving forces, color and motivate one's
attitudes and future actions. Vasanas are the conglomerate
results of subconscious impressions (samskaras) created
through experience. Samskaras, experiential impressions,
combine in the subconscious to form vasanas, which
thereafter contribute to mental fluctuations, called vritti.
The most complex and emotionally charged vasanas are
found in the dimension of mind called the subsubconscious,
or vasana chitta.

From http://www.experiencefestival.com/


I would like to narrate a couple of instances of Vasana.

1. There is a Muslim called Khan. He belongs to the Pathan community. But from child hood he has been a pure vegetarian. In fact he will not eat vegetarian food prepared in the same vessels as Non-Vegetarian food. His family has separate vessels for to prepare vegetarian food for him. Otherwise he is a devout Muslim.

2. A girl born in a devout Muslim family exhibited a dislike for non-vegetarian food from childhood. Also from child hood she was attracted to Hindu Deities. In spite of all attempts to change her she refused to change. So the family allowed her to be a Hindu.

When she grew up a marriage was arranged with a boy from a known Brahmin family. The Muslim girl is a orthodox Madisar mami now.

In the last decade there has been also a tendency to go back to the roots. We find former English professors and reputed surgeons who have become full time temple priests.