Heartfulness – July 2019

VIKSHEPAS

We have already discussed the need to spend some time every day focused inward on the core of
our being, of our existence, in order to counteract the entropy that would otherwise take us outward
into entanglements, suffering and afflictions. That is what we do in Heartfulness Meditation – we
turn inward to our heart. It is simple: when we direct the mind towards the heart, we move towards
balance, peace, stillness and harmony; when we direct the mind outward into the external world,
without a strong connection to the heart we encounter more and more entropy and instability.

Daily life is the interplay of the two currents – the outward and inward flow of energy and attention.
Once we are well established in our inward connection with the heart, it permeates our being and
oozes out into every aspect of life, so that we are able to avoid the pull of outward entropy. This
is the most preventative approach to mental health we could possibly take. Imagine if every young
person knew how to do this before embarking on the journey of life. How different the world
would be.

Now, what happens when we don’t have that inward awareness with attention or connection
developed, when we are not centered in the core of our heart? We become like leaves tossed about
in the wind. Whatever colorings or afflictions are there in our system become more complex and
manifest as the vikshepas, the obstacles and distractions to our further progress. Patanjali described
these obstacles as follows:

1.30: Vyadhi styana samsaya

pramada-alasya-avirati bhrantidarsana-alabdha-bhumikatva-

anavasthitatvani citta-vikshepah te antarayah

They are the obstacles that distract the mind.

In the modern context, we can add two more to the list:

fear of missing out (FOMO),

and digital distraction.

Vyadhi - Disease

Styana - Languor, mental dullness, apathy

Samsaya - Doubt

Pramada - Carelessness, haste, indifference

Alasya - Laziness, sloth

Avirati - Absence of non-attachment, sensuality

Bhrantidarsana - False perception, blindness

Alabdha-bhumikatva - Not attaining the destination or stage,

lack of determination

Anavasthitatvani - Instability, not retaining the condition

July 2019 51

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