The Role Of Emotions In The Functioning Of The Soul

Inside the soul, there are four components - *thoughts, feelings, emotions*and
*'sanskaras'*. Thoughts and feelings are present more on the surface of the
soul in the conscious. Emotions and 'sanskaras' on the other hand are less
easily perceived and lie below thoughts and feelings.

'Sanskaras' can be defined as the traces left on the soul due to actions
performed by it and also due to its interactions with others in
relationships.

Emotions, on the other hand, are impulses associated with the 'sanskaras'
and are very close to these traces.

The internal functioning of the soul is cyclic - *'thoughts gives rise to
actions, actions give rise to 'sanskaras', and 'sanskaras' give rise to
further thoughts'*. This description becomes complete, when we add an
additional component - emotions. The deepest component inside the soul is
the 'sanskaras'. Next up from 'sanskaras' are the emotions, above that are
feelings and then finally the uppermost component inside the soul is the
thoughts.

Thoughts can be caught instantly. Feelings can be seen and perceived if I
stop for a moment and check. Emotions are deeper than both of them and are
very close to the 'sanskaras', and just as its difficult to see all the
'sanskaras' of an individual, we can't always see their emotions. Feelings,
being more towards the surface, can be clearly identified, but you have to
go deeper to see the quality of emotions a person is creating and the
quality of his/her 'sanskaras'.