Patañjali's Got Talent: The Show of Mental Fluctuations
- Alessia Masciocchi
- Oct 23, 2024
- 2 min read
Hello beauties!
Today we'll explore the intriguing concept of Citta Vṛtti चित्त वृत्ति [ˈtʃɪt̪t̪ə ˈʋrɪt̪t̪ɪ], which translates to "fluctuations of the mind".
Patañjali पतञ्जलि [pət̪əɲdʒəlɪ], the revered ancient yoga sage, elucidated these mental states in his seminal work, the Yoga Sūtras.
He posited that our minds experience five modes of functioning, which can lead to both positive and negative states:
Pramāṇa प्रमाण [prəˈmaːɳə]: This represents our mind's methods of acquiring knowledge, akin to mental measurement. It manifests in three forms:
Pratyakṣa प्रत्यक्ष [prət̪ˈjəkʂə]: Direct perception
Anumāna अनुमान [ənʊˈmaːnə]: Inference or logical deduction
Āgama आगम [ˈaːɡəmə]: Reliable testimony or scriptural authority
Viparyaya विपर्यय [ʋɪpərˈjəjə]: This refers to a misconception or error in judgement that is eventually corrected. The historical belief that the Sun orbited the Earth is an excellent example.
Vikalpa विकल्प [ʋɪˈkəlpə]: This denotes imagination or fantasy - the mind's capacity for conjuring scenarios which differ from reality.
Nidrā निद्रा [nɪˈd̪raː]: Sleep, which can be restorative or, if accompanied by worry about future events, potentially detrimental.
Smṛti स्मृति [s̪mr̩ˈt̪ɪ]: Memory, our mind's ability to recall past experiences. Some individuals may find themselves excessively focusing on these recollections.
Patañjali also identified five afflictions that significantly disrupt our inner harmony:
Avidyā अविद्या [əʋɪˈd̪jaː]: Ignorance or misunderstanding of reality
Asmitā अस्मिता [əs̪mɪˈt̪aː]: Egoism or over-identification with the self
Rāga राग [ˈraːɡə]: Attachment or excessive desire
Dveṣa द्वेष [ˈd̪ʋeːʂə]: Aversion or hatred
Abhiniveśa अभिनिवेश [əbʱɪnɪˈʋeːʃə]: Fear of death or clinging to life
These five afflictions create significant challenges for the sādhaka साधक [ˈs̪aːd̪ʱəkə] (spiritual practitioner) on their yogic journey. They can severely impede one's progress towards inner peace if left unchecked.
A useful metaphor for understanding this concept is to imagine the mind as a tranquil lake. Our thoughts are in tune with the reflections on its surface. The Citta Vṛtti act like a breeze, disturbing the lake's surface and distorting the reflections. This shows how mental fluctuations can disrupt our inner calm.
However, yoga offers a solution. Practitioners train themselves to cultivate present-moment awareness, refraining from fixation on the past or anxiety about the future. Through dedicated study and the gradual relinquishment of desires, they learn to still the lake of the mind.
The method for achieving this state of mental equilibrium is encapsulated in the eight limbs of yoga.
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Namaste
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