Bīja

Bīja is seed — principle from which something manifests. In Vedānta, bīja represents the potency of stored vāsanās and saṃskāras that, under appropriate conditions, bear fruit as janma. In yoga, the term refers to bīja-mantra — seed-syllable (e.g.: Oṃ, Hrīṃ) that condenses an energy. Knowledge of ātman 'burns' the bījas — they may continue to appear (like a roasted seed), but germinate no more.