Q: Pranam Swamiji,
What does the word "sankalpa" mean and denote?Does it mean desire or expectation or something other than these two?
A:
Dear and blessed G :
Harih Om Tat Sat. Your email of 8th May is before me and I am reading it again.
Your body can only give rise to physical functions. Body consists of matter and energy alone.
Sankalpa is by the mind. Sankalpa is a creative thought, idea or expression. It consists of letters words all of which are containing units and measures of knowledge. Desire is a mental process, by which a particular object is sought to be under one’s custody or possession.
Expectation means the thought or process by which we feel something should transpire or take place. Sankalpa need not be these alone. It can be something else also. May something transpire.
May there be health for you. May the student pass well. May the construction be over and the facility set up.
Here is a rigvedic sankalpa. Aano bhadrah kratavo yantu vishwatah: Let noble thoughts from all directions enter me.
I think you should be able to decide now as to what is sankalpa, what is desire and what is expectation.
Love and ashirvaad. Maa Gurupriya and Swami Nirviseshananda also send their loving good wishes.
Antaraatma,
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
