06-04-2007, 10:57 PM
Husky,
I agree with you. Also my usage of word "rajasic" to describe the comics is not a complete description. The closest word I can find is the "vital" as used by Sri Aurobindo.
The word "vital" as used by Sri Aurobindo corresponds with "prANa" or the life-force. It is the force of life but is also prone to its wants, desires, angers, passions, and a penchant for drama and control. Just as taittirIya-upanishad says that there is a vital-sheath (prANamaya-kosha) that all humans possess, Aurobindo also mentions that there is a certain individuality in us which is dominated by prANa, he calls it the "vital-being" in us. We have other individualities too such as "mental-being" (manomaya-kosha) and the "physical being" (annamaya-kosha). The individuality that survives through rebirth is none of these physical, vital or mental individualities, but our soul (kAraNa-sharIra), which he terms as the "psychic-being" in us. This is a much truer individuality and its evolution through multiple lifetimes is the real human endeavour. In most humans this individuality is undeveloped or suppressed. If you watch TV or cinema, it is clearly seen that most of drama of life is about the part of us called the "vital-being". Only in few greatly advanced souls, the "psychic being" is overtly in control of the whole human being.
Even in a normal human's life, psychic, or mental can dominate some of the time but most often it is the vital part which runs our lives.
Yogis mention that all these individualities also have a world of their own. Vital-being has its own world called the vital-world, with which it interacts. These worlds/planes are not mutually exclusive and can interact with each other, so mental can influence vital and vital can influence mental etc. These so called "worlds" are not physical, but are manifested in dreams, visions etc, but they are not completely unreal in the sense that their impact is completely unreal. It is the evidence of many yogis that impact of these "worlds" or "planes" is quite real on a human. A human is constantly being subjected to their influences, intrusions, suggestions and even attacks. In psychological terms you can describe them as mood swings etc, and they may just be some neuronal imbalances, but the impact on a person can be quite strong and real.
Apparently the vital-world is the world of passions, desires etc, and is a great hindrance in a yogi's progress. The problem is that help of vital or prANa-shakti is needed for any endeavour, but it has its associated costs. It is felt by all who practice yoga/meditation that after a certain advancement has been made, they become very sensitive, and attacks, impacts and lures of vital-world considerably increase. If unprepared or not suitably guided, a sAdhaka can get trapped in the lures of vital formations. All the so called practitioners of tantra who think sex is a way for spiritual progress are tied down at the vital-level. It is also mentioned that unlike humans that have physical bodies too, some beings can exist which are purely vital bodied, i.e. made solely of prANa-shakti. They gain their sustenance not from physical food but by other sources, sometimes even preying on people.
When I see most of the comic-books, I perceive a strong vital-element in them. The imageries of victory, destruction, blood and gore and sexual depictions all indicate vital element. In itself prANa is just a shakti, and can be used for good or bad. But in an unpurified form it can become a great hindrance.
In that sense I am also not completely pleased with these virgin comics, since they perpetuate the dominance of the vital-element. But that seems to be the norm in comics and in most of the entertainment industry. It would take highly creative and inspired individuals to create comics or general entertainment which can be engrossing for the soul and not just the vital in us.
I agree with you. Also my usage of word "rajasic" to describe the comics is not a complete description. The closest word I can find is the "vital" as used by Sri Aurobindo.
The word "vital" as used by Sri Aurobindo corresponds with "prANa" or the life-force. It is the force of life but is also prone to its wants, desires, angers, passions, and a penchant for drama and control. Just as taittirIya-upanishad says that there is a vital-sheath (prANamaya-kosha) that all humans possess, Aurobindo also mentions that there is a certain individuality in us which is dominated by prANa, he calls it the "vital-being" in us. We have other individualities too such as "mental-being" (manomaya-kosha) and the "physical being" (annamaya-kosha). The individuality that survives through rebirth is none of these physical, vital or mental individualities, but our soul (kAraNa-sharIra), which he terms as the "psychic-being" in us. This is a much truer individuality and its evolution through multiple lifetimes is the real human endeavour. In most humans this individuality is undeveloped or suppressed. If you watch TV or cinema, it is clearly seen that most of drama of life is about the part of us called the "vital-being". Only in few greatly advanced souls, the "psychic being" is overtly in control of the whole human being.
Even in a normal human's life, psychic, or mental can dominate some of the time but most often it is the vital part which runs our lives.
Yogis mention that all these individualities also have a world of their own. Vital-being has its own world called the vital-world, with which it interacts. These worlds/planes are not mutually exclusive and can interact with each other, so mental can influence vital and vital can influence mental etc. These so called "worlds" are not physical, but are manifested in dreams, visions etc, but they are not completely unreal in the sense that their impact is completely unreal. It is the evidence of many yogis that impact of these "worlds" or "planes" is quite real on a human. A human is constantly being subjected to their influences, intrusions, suggestions and even attacks. In psychological terms you can describe them as mood swings etc, and they may just be some neuronal imbalances, but the impact on a person can be quite strong and real.
Apparently the vital-world is the world of passions, desires etc, and is a great hindrance in a yogi's progress. The problem is that help of vital or prANa-shakti is needed for any endeavour, but it has its associated costs. It is felt by all who practice yoga/meditation that after a certain advancement has been made, they become very sensitive, and attacks, impacts and lures of vital-world considerably increase. If unprepared or not suitably guided, a sAdhaka can get trapped in the lures of vital formations. All the so called practitioners of tantra who think sex is a way for spiritual progress are tied down at the vital-level. It is also mentioned that unlike humans that have physical bodies too, some beings can exist which are purely vital bodied, i.e. made solely of prANa-shakti. They gain their sustenance not from physical food but by other sources, sometimes even preying on people.
When I see most of the comic-books, I perceive a strong vital-element in them. The imageries of victory, destruction, blood and gore and sexual depictions all indicate vital element. In itself prANa is just a shakti, and can be used for good or bad. But in an unpurified form it can become a great hindrance.
In that sense I am also not completely pleased with these virgin comics, since they perpetuate the dominance of the vital-element. But that seems to be the norm in comics and in most of the entertainment industry. It would take highly creative and inspired individuals to create comics or general entertainment which can be engrossing for the soul and not just the vital in us.