Page 325 - The Path of Grace

APPENDIX I - KOSAS
contented,’ or ‘My happiness,’ ‘my happiness is experienced,’ ‘my happiness is dear to me’ which are strictly speaking is true of this Kosa rather than the self.
It is necessary that we understand more about the vasanas and samskaras in this context. The sight of an object, the thinking of a thought, the performance of an act, the saying of a single word, leave a trace in the Atman ( conglomerate of Buddhi, Ahankar, Manas and Chitta) that lasts beyond time, leaving an imprint in the subconscious mind, which then color all of life, one’s nature, responses, states of mind, attitudes, etc. This subconscious imprint is called samskara. The character of a man, his attitudes, his moral or mental status, his talents, his likes and dislikes, his desires, his thoughts, all are determined by his samskaras, which are the product of his past actions. These samskaras are related to the various kosas according to their nature till Vijnanamaya Kosa.
Samskaras are experiential impressions that combine in the subconscious to form vasanas.
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