sanskara means an imprint left on the mind by past experiences (often in past lives) that then condition future responses and behavior. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
Why “sanskara” is a great word
SANSKARA — [Noun] A mental impression or conditioning formed by past experiences or actions, which subconsciously shapes future behavior and perceptions. From Sanskrit संस्कार (saṃskāra, 'impression, preparation, perfection'), from the root sam- ('together, well') + kṛ ('to do, to make'), thus meaning 'a putting together, a making perfect, a formative impression'. Unlike "vasana" (a subtle, scent-like latent desire) or "habit" (a conscious, learned pattern), sanskara is the deep-seated imprint itself—the etched groove in the psyche. It is the involuntary recoil from a flame, the unthinking path your feet take home, and the specific cadence of your walk, which is also the cadence of your father's walk: the inherited grammar of a self still being written from erased drafts.
Etymology
From Sanskrit संस्कार (saṃskāra, “impression”).
noun
- An imprint left on the mind by past experiences (often in past lives) that then condition future responses and behavior