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We examine the impact of the current colonial-racist discourse around Hindu Dharma on Indians across the world and prove that this discourse causes psychological effects similar to those caused by racism: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a detachment from our cultural heritage.

Vitarka

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Vitarka in general means imagination or doubtful knowledge. However, the Yogasutras of Patañjali (200 B. C.) uses this word in a technical sense. It categorizes samprajñātasamādhi[1] into four varieties, the first one being with vitarka (sa-vitarka).[2]

Meanings as per Yogasutras are as follows:

  1. Vitarka is defined as the intense awareness that arises in the mind when it concentrates on a gross object.
  2. In another place,[3] vitarka is identified with certain obstacles to the practice of Yoga.


References[edit]

  1. Samprajñātasamādhi means perfect concentration.
  2. Yogasutras 1.17
  3. Yogasutras 2.33.34
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore