Asraya

Definition: Support, basis, or foundation; the underlying substrate or dependence upon which phenomena rest or arise.

Insights: Asraya represents the principle of foundational support in yoga philosophy. In the Yoga Sutras, it appears in the context of interdependent causation (4.11) as one of the four factors that sustain vasanas (latent impressions), and in relation to how truthfulness provides a reliable foundation for actions to bear fruit (2.36). Understanding asraya helps practitioners recognize the importance of establishing stable foundations in practice and the interdependent nature of all phenomena. It emphasizes that all experiences and mental formations require some form of support or basis to exist.