Last updated: December 21, 2023
What Does
Prasupta Mean?
Prasupta is a Sanskrit word that translates as “sleeping,” “inactive” and “latent.” In the context of yogic philosophy, it is one of the four stages of the kleshas (negative mental states) described in the Yoga Sutras. In order to overcome the kleshas, which block spiritual growth and enlightenment, yogis must gain an awareness of the four stages.
Prasupta is the dormant stage. The kleshas’ other three stages are tanu (the attenuated or weakened stage), udaram (the active or natural stage) and vicchinna (the separated stage).
Yogapedia Explains Prasupta
In the prasupta stage, the yogi may have a dormant klesha because he/she has done nothing to encourage it to grow, or he or she may be a highly aware yogi who has the knowledge to keep the kleshas dormant. Given the right circumstances, though, such as a major life crisis, the yogi may allow the kleshas to become active again.
That active stage is udaram, when the kleshas gain control and block spiritual growth. In the other two stages, the kleshas are in states between dormant and active. In the vicchinna stage, the klesha is weakened or temporarily inactive because it became unimportant or because the yogi separated himself or herself from it mentally. In tanu, the klesha exists in the subconscious where it is not strong enough to affect the yogi’s mental state.
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