Out of Bondage

I write these articles, not because I want to, but because I am asked to do so. For this reason I probably over-simplify; there is no need to go into great depth when our real emphasis is on T’ai Chi Chih.

We develop habit energies during our life time (called “Vashanas” in Sanskrit), and these not only motivate us in our lives but also make our Karma for the future. We believe we are perfectly free in our decisions and our movements, but, if we study ourselves closely and impartially we will find that we follow certain patterns, sometimes even asking ourselves why we made a particular mistake all over again. When we have found something enjoyable and then find that it is not permanent, we agonize over it — sometimes feeling we cannot do without it. This often leads to actions of anger, which becomes a force greater than our willpower. These actions greatly affect our Karma, which in turn leads us around by the nose.

By closely studying ourselves, we may be able to determine our past, or even past lives if we believe in them. An orange tree does not grow apples. The patterns grow steadily stronger and they lead us in a direction we may not really want to go.

For this reason, in disciplines that try to bring us to a state of freedom (as opposed to the bondage many religious organizations aim to impose) the goal is to, in one way or another, weaken these Vashanas and bring about the desired freedom. In Zen it has to do with cleaning out the eighth consciousness (the Alaya Vijnana, or Receptacle of Consciousness). In Yoga (true Yoga) the aim, according to Patanjali, called “the Father of Yoga,” is to weaken or suppress the “mental modifications” (Vrittis) which lead to the making of Vashanas, and, ultimately, to go back to the way we came and undo the causes, the mental modifications which lead to the Vashanas, which become Samskaras, the tendencies that last through many lifetimes. The Buddha said,

“All that you are, all that you have ever been, and all that you will be is the result of what you have thought” (“thought” meaning the Vrittis that become Vashanas).

If we are not content with our lives, we might take a look in the direction of these habit patterns. If you really want to, you can change the direction in which you are heading.

Source: New Mexico TCC News, Apr. ’96