YOGASH CHITTA-VRITTI NIRODH
Yoga means control of tendencies of CHITTA.
The first sutra stated that we are starting the study , explanation of the YOGA . Now the second sutra states that the Yoga is control of tendencies of the mind - chitta. It also indirectly suggests that yoga occurs when the tendencies of the mind are controlled.The chitta can be stated as 'mind stuff'.It could be stated that chitta is precursor to the mind. So the thought process is like a river. It is flowing continuously. It never stops. So in the chitta there is a 'urmi'. like a Wave in the quite water. This stimulates the mind . So the mind and chitta are practically same . So I will refer to the chitta as mind in future. There are 3 qualities or GUNAS as they are called in Hindi religion . These are part of Nature and not that of Spirit. So these 3 Gunas guide or may be control our thoughts. The SATWIC -the good quality, the RAJASIC -the activating and lastly the TAMASIC - the laziness in us . So all 3 are always there . Sometimes there is dominance of Satwic , at times there is dominance of Rajasic and then sometimes we have dominance of Tamasic . In individuals one may dominate more than others.But at a given time we have one of these three that guides our thoughts.
So based on this understanding, our mind has different types of condition of mind . There will be five different states of the mind.These are
1,MUDHA-CHITTA,
2 KSHIPTA-CHITTA,
3VIKSHIPTA -CHITTA
4,EKAGRA-CHITTA
5NIRUDHDHA-CHITTA
1)MUDHA-CHITTA.When we have not only predominance of Tamasic or may be that is the only quality which is active at that time , our chitta or the mind is called MUDHA. Think about how we are when we indulge in too much alcohol or take drugs or even eat too much.Our mind is dull and can not do anything.Sleep is the normal state when there is predominance of Tamasic gunas.The unconscious state is extreme state of the same .
2)KSHIPTA-CHITTA.KSHIPT means thrown. So when the mind is thrown to the outside ,there is no way we can concentrate 'inside'At this time there is dominance of Rajasic quality.
3)VIKSHIPTA -CHITTA.As we progress in our meditative quality,the Satwic guna increases , and Tamasic goes down and Rajasic though present is not as strong as in the KSHIPTA-CHITTA state.So though our thought process is not fully controlled,and at times it goes to the out side subjects or attractions, we are in position to point it inwards. But this is limited.This will be similar to someone doing meditation for 20 or 30 mins and then still attending partiess, drinking alcohol or many other things including attached to money,business etc.Even when one is doing meditation the concentration does not occur for all the time that one is meditating, but it wonders.So the Satwic guna is more , but the Rajasic and Tamasic are still there in significant amount.
4)EKAGRA-CHITTA. EKA means single ,and Agra means pointedness. So this means mind has 'single pointedness.So when the mind can achieve the single pointed concentration and not waver in different other thoughts , this mind is called ekagra.Not only the mind does not waver while we are doing the meditation , but even otherwise mind does not think of activities like parties or sex or other activities of sense organ pleasures.In this state of mind the Satwic guna is quite dominant and there is very little Tamasic guna but some Rajasic guna is still there.
5)NIRUDHDHA -CHITTA. So in this state of mind ,there are no thoughts. All are controlled and the mind does not wander.So now we have full control over our thought process and it is not because we are controlling it , but we just don't have the Rajasic or Tamasic thoughts. So we are not doing any activities for getting credits(doing activities to get credit is Rajasic activity)or not doing activities for only sense organ pleasures,which is Tamasic.
So when we achieve this state then there is union with GOD . So YOGA -THE UNION OCCURS WHEN ALL THE THOUGHTS ARE CONTROLLED .
Yoga means control of tendencies of CHITTA.
The first sutra stated that we are starting the study , explanation of the YOGA . Now the second sutra states that the Yoga is control of tendencies of the mind - chitta. It also indirectly suggests that yoga occurs when the tendencies of the mind are controlled.The chitta can be stated as 'mind stuff'.It could be stated that chitta is precursor to the mind. So the thought process is like a river. It is flowing continuously. It never stops. So in the chitta there is a 'urmi'. like a Wave in the quite water. This stimulates the mind . So the mind and chitta are practically same . So I will refer to the chitta as mind in future. There are 3 qualities or GUNAS as they are called in Hindi religion . These are part of Nature and not that of Spirit. So these 3 Gunas guide or may be control our thoughts. The SATWIC -the good quality, the RAJASIC -the activating and lastly the TAMASIC - the laziness in us . So all 3 are always there . Sometimes there is dominance of Satwic , at times there is dominance of Rajasic and then sometimes we have dominance of Tamasic . In individuals one may dominate more than others.But at a given time we have one of these three that guides our thoughts.
So based on this understanding, our mind has different types of condition of mind . There will be five different states of the mind.These are
1,MUDHA-CHITTA,
2 KSHIPTA-CHITTA,
3VIKSHIPTA -CHITTA
4,EKAGRA-CHITTA
5NIRUDHDHA-CHITTA
1)MUDHA-CHITTA.When we have not only predominance of Tamasic or may be that is the only quality which is active at that time , our chitta or the mind is called MUDHA. Think about how we are when we indulge in too much alcohol or take drugs or even eat too much.Our mind is dull and can not do anything.Sleep is the normal state when there is predominance of Tamasic gunas.The unconscious state is extreme state of the same .
2)KSHIPTA-CHITTA.KSHIPT means thrown. So when the mind is thrown to the outside ,there is no way we can concentrate 'inside'At this time there is dominance of Rajasic quality.
3)VIKSHIPTA -CHITTA.As we progress in our meditative quality,the Satwic guna increases , and Tamasic goes down and Rajasic though present is not as strong as in the KSHIPTA-CHITTA state.So though our thought process is not fully controlled,and at times it goes to the out side subjects or attractions, we are in position to point it inwards. But this is limited.This will be similar to someone doing meditation for 20 or 30 mins and then still attending partiess, drinking alcohol or many other things including attached to money,business etc.Even when one is doing meditation the concentration does not occur for all the time that one is meditating, but it wonders.So the Satwic guna is more , but the Rajasic and Tamasic are still there in significant amount.
4)EKAGRA-CHITTA. EKA means single ,and Agra means pointedness. So this means mind has 'single pointedness.So when the mind can achieve the single pointed concentration and not waver in different other thoughts , this mind is called ekagra.Not only the mind does not waver while we are doing the meditation , but even otherwise mind does not think of activities like parties or sex or other activities of sense organ pleasures.In this state of mind the Satwic guna is quite dominant and there is very little Tamasic guna but some Rajasic guna is still there.
5)NIRUDHDHA -CHITTA. So in this state of mind ,there are no thoughts. All are controlled and the mind does not wander.So now we have full control over our thought process and it is not because we are controlling it , but we just don't have the Rajasic or Tamasic thoughts. So we are not doing any activities for getting credits(doing activities to get credit is Rajasic activity)or not doing activities for only sense organ pleasures,which is Tamasic.
So when we achieve this state then there is union with GOD . So YOGA -THE UNION OCCURS WHEN ALL THE THOUGHTS ARE CONTROLLED .
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