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CarsonZi
Canada
3189 Posts |
 Posted - May 17 2010 : 11:32:55 AM
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Namaste All 
I did a site search for the word "samvega" and nothing came up. So I figured I would start a thread on what Samvega is and see if anyone is interested in dicussing it.
Samvega is a Buddhist concept (I believe).....here is the definition:
"The oppressive sense of shock, dismay and alienation that come with realizing the futility and meaningless of life as it's normally lived; a chastening sense of our own complacency and foolishness in having let ourselves live so blindly; and an anxious sense of urgency in trying to find a way out of the meaningless cycle".
All 3 clusters of these feelings are felt at the same time during a Samvega experience. Here are a few symptoms that come along with experiencing Samvega:
1) A puzzling failure of previous sources of satisfaction
2) A heightened concern with authenticity
3) A deeply felt internal imperative to stop business as usual
4) A sense of urgency about realizing deeply hidden talents and gifts
5) A call to explore a path that might give transcendent meaning to the enigmas of life.
I know that I personally had a "samvega" experience in February 2005. It was a defining moment (actually 3 days) in my life. It started with me trying to commit suicide and continued (once I was unsuccessful) with a solid three days of crying (no eating no sleeping) while locked in the psych ward of a hospital, ending with the most profound silence I had ever felt (at that point in my life). During that time of Silence I realized that this state of Being was where I wanted to live from for the rest of my life and that I would do whatever was necessary to stay in/get back to that point. This was the beginning of my search for "enlightenment." I believe that a lot of people have "samvega" experiences but that usually (in this society) they are called "mid-life crisis'". I can't know this (as my "mid-life crisis" came long before "mid life" [I was only 24]) but I have a suspicion that this is essentially what people who are going through what is often termed as a "mid life crisis" are experiencing. Anyone gone through a mid-life crisis and is willing to comment on whether the definition of samvega fits with your experience?
Love!
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Edited by - CarsonZi on May 17 2010 11:36:08 AM |
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yogani
USA
5242 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 12:14:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by CarsonZi
Anyone gone through a mid-life crisis and is willing to comment on whether the definition of samvega fits with your experience?
Hi Carson:
It is interesting to see what age demographic has the greatest viewership of AYP Youtube videos -- mid-life:
http://www.aypsite.org/images/AYP-YouTube.jpg
Sooner is obviously preferred, but it is never too late! 
The guru is in you.
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Anthem
1608 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 1:24:28 PM
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HI Yogani,
61000 views seems like a very impressive number?! |
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yogani
USA
5242 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 1:41:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Anthem11
HI Yogani,
61000 views seems like a very impressive number?!
Hi Anthem:
That was for 2009. It is over 90,000 views now, with similar age and gender distribution.
The 2009 Youtube demographics link was pulled from here: http://www.aypsite.org/forum/topic....OPIC_ID=4975
The guru is in you. |
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Ananda
3115 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 2:59:15 PM
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Thank you for the open heart sharing brother Carson, it made my heart melt.
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cosmic
USA
821 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 11:55:58 PM
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Hey Carson,
I've never heard the term "samvega" before. Sounds like a Street Fighter character to me.
But the description matches an experience I had in 2002. Funny, I was also 24 at the time. I called it a "spiritual awakening" at the time, and that just confused people. It was a moment of deep silence and beauty, during a very dark and desperate point in my life.
I believe this was samvega because it was the major turning point in my life. It was also sandwiched between a very desperate prayer to God (last resort - I was an atheist) and my discovery of yoga. Two years into yoga, I discovered AYP and the rest is history 
Also, reading your description of samvega, the thought occurred to me that the world/society seems to be going through it right now. It looks like humanity is having a collective samvega experience. At least I hope that's what it is. Because I don't see a way out of this except through a massive awakening.
With Love
cosmic |
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emc
2072 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 01:41:24 AM
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| I'm in a permanent samvega! |
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Samvega
