Samskaras are impressions in the field of consciousness. These impressions decide our destiny, the direction of our life, the character that we develop and the mentality that we are endowed with. This happens at a subtle level, at the level of the unconscious.
The field of samskaras
The faculty of consciousness has three dimensions: conscious, subconscious and unconscious. The conscious dimension is responsible for logical, linear analysis. The subconscious dimension is responsible for the creation of desires, associations and attachments, identities that we recognize as good and bad, right and wrong, positive and negative. The unconscious dimension represents the field where the seeds of impressions are latent.The latency of impressions in the unconscious must be understood properly.
Imagine that you are holding a seed in the palm of your hand. You can break open the seed, layer by layer, but you will not find a tree in it. However, in each seed lies the absolute possibility of manifestation: of becoming a tree. The seed becomes a tree, although you cannot see the tree, roots, leaves or fruits in it. Similarly, the unknown dimension of the consciousness has been defined as the unconscious by psychologists. Why ‘unconscious’, why not ‘unknown’? The reason is simple: consciousness reflects the level of awareness that one has at a certain stage in life.
You may know that there is noise outside the room you are in; you cannot hear the noise, but you know and realize that it exists – that is the unconscious. It is not unknown; you know that the sounds are there, but your awareness is not expansive enough to hear the sounds.
Therefore, to define the unknown area of the consciousness, the word ‘unconscious’ has been used. It denotes absence of awareness from that dimension. It is in this dimension that impressions or samskaras are created, nurtured, and mature. Sometimes, samskaras manifest in the form of fear or insecurity. Samskaras manifest in the form of strength or a positive quality. They can manifest as an aggressive nature and a peaceful nature. The important point is that human beings can manage these samskaras and create a new set of them. If they could not do so, it would be a great problem for there would be no scope for transformation.
Impressions in the womb
We receive the initial set of impressions from our mother in the deep unconscious in the womb. We are born with them. Therefore, it is possible to learn the skills of life, to acquire wisdom, while we are in the womb, provided the mother is disciplined, conscious and spiritually awakened. It is only a spirituallyawakened mother who is capable of imparting the right samskaras. With proper application of yogic practices, the child can be imbued with positive attitudes, samskaras and qualities in the womb itself through the mother. She can become a conduit for the purity of the consciousness of the child.
Yoga Sadhana Panorama Vol 8, page 95, Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati