What does 'Vaasnaa' mean?

Discussion of life's dilemmas, blessings and challenges. Got Questions? Need Answers? This is the place to be. Feel comfortable with asking any question. Anonymous posting is allowed. Questions are answered by anyone in the sangat who feels they can help.
Post Reply
User avatar
Altaica
New User
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:04 pm
Contact:

What does 'Vaasnaa' mean?

Post by Altaica »

While studying a came across this term. 'Vaasnaas' which the article defined as "undigested desires, latent memories, etc."
Could someone please give me a more detailed description of it's meaning?
swarn bains
Power User
Posts: 613
Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 6:29 am
Location: canada

Re: What does 'Vaasnaa' mean?

Post by swarn bains »

desires, greed, ill conceived ideas, ill thinking, slander etc
IJJSingh
Power User
Posts: 203
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:49 am

Re: What does 'Vaasnaa' mean?

Post by IJJSingh »

In short, vaasna is our predisposition.

Inside our body, we have a reservoir of past memories and habits. Repetitive thoughts and actions over a long period of time become sanskar (subliminal mind) further entrenchment turns into vaasna (unconscious mind). This reservoir carries from one lifetime to the next (as our genetic predisposition) and controls to a large degree our future desires and behavior.

This pre-programming or predisposition of our unconscious mind shaped over several life times, is very difficult to change.
ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਕੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਗੀ ਕਾਲਾ ਹੋਆ ਸਿਆਹੁ ॥
The filth of countless incarnations sticks to this mind; it has become pitch black.
ਖੰਨਲੀ ਧੋਤੀ ਉਜਲੀ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਸਉ ਧੋਵਣਿ ਪਾਹੁ ॥
The oily rag cannot be cleaned by merely washing it, even if it is washed a hundred times. (SGGS 651)

We use our bibek budhi (intellect guided by gurbani) to resist doing bad things in the future, while naam slowly cleanses our deep-seeded vaasnas.

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh
User avatar
Altaica
New User
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:04 pm
Contact:

Re: What does 'Vaasnaa' mean?

Post by Altaica »

Thanks for your replies. It was vary helpful.
Post Reply