TRANSCENDENCE:

Samskara and the Somatic Self

Samskara can be commonly defined as a sacrament or a rite done to mark a significant transition in life.  In Hinduism, the most common of these rites include a pre-birth ceremony, a name-giving ceremony, a first grains ceremony, a first hair cutting ceremony, a starting school ceremony, a marriage ceremony and a funeral or death ceremony.  Most traditions and religions in the world contain the wisdom behind Samskara.  These rites of passage are found in Eastern cultures and religions as well as in those that are native to the Western culture.

In his book Transcendence:  Saving Us from Ourselves, ISBN 978-098151163-4, Navin Doshi defines Samskara as the harnessing of physical impulses and reflexes within the somatic self.  In the Western world, somatic selves that have not received Samskara over-react to external stimuli.  If the somatic self had received Samskara, the reaction would be more even keeled and would benefit the individual, society and the state. 

The somatic self contains two parts, DNA and the body.  The ruler of this self is the genitalia.  Consequently, many outside influences create no end to the desires of the body.  These outside influences help put the body out of balance.  Rigorous cultural exercises that control the lust and greed of the body help harness these impulses and reflexes.  When these impulses have been harnessed and not reacted to, the somatic self experiences true physical freedom.

To learn more about Samskara and the somatic self, go to www.NavinDoshi.com to read about his book, Transcendence:  Saving Us from Ourselves.