Samvega
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samvega. Sam = with, together {sym, com} + vega = force, wave, agitation, dismay. It was translated into Chinese as 厭怖 {yanbu}.厭 = loathe, tire of; 怖 = shudder, terror, dread. The sino-japanese reading is enfu.
It refers to the Buddha’s mental state after his first three encounters; his first exposure to aging, sickness, and death, as Prince Siddhartha. It means a gut wrenching spiritual dilemma; angst coupled with a sense of urgency. It can lead to bitterness, cynicism, or depression. Or it can cause one to seek the Dharma.
samvega; it covers three clusters of feelings at once:
"the oppressive sense of shock, dismay, and alienation that come with realizing the futility and meaninglessness of life as it's normally lived;
a chastening sense of our own complacency and foolishness in having let ourselves live so blindly;
and an anxious sense of urgency in trying to find a way out of the meaningless cycle."
Samvega; a sense of urgency to escape the round of meaningless existence; and pasada, a clarity and serene confidence that allows one to proceed confidently towards the goal without lapsing into despair.