“Chitta” is like the sky, and the Mind is like
the clouds and “Vritties” are movements of the clouds. Chitta” is the
“reflection of self”. It is also called higher mind because there is no exact
translation available in English, so we take the support of a couple of words,
and try to understand and define ‘Chitta’ and mind.
Sage Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras has given the definition for “Vritties' ' of the “Chitta”. “Chitta
Shuddhi'' is the control and monitoring of the mind. According to Sage
Patanjali, “Chitta Vritti nirodhah'' is called yoga and it is the cessation or
modification of the mind’. When the "Vritties" of mind are not there, it becomes
Yoga. So, "Chitta Vritti" can put you into trouble. Vrittis of the mind is of
two types namely Klishta (painful) and Aklishta (pleasant). When it is pleasant
we are joyful and we forget everything else. Nobody even thinks of going to the
higher level and a person will be busy with worldly objects. Since worldly
objects of pleasure and pleasures of the senses are not permanent.
Whenever there is a
painful situation in our life we run towards the higher level of consciousness
or supreme energy or Ishwara or God. Now if we compare "Vritties" of pain and
pleasantness, between two we can understand that painful "Vritties" are in
higher numbers.
For an average
person in life, there is no understanding of analyzing between the painful "Vritti" and pleasant "Vritti". We human beings would like to go more towards the
pleasant "Vritties". If there is unpleasantness we are not at ease. Whenever,
wherever there is a painful "Vritti" we get irritated and agitated. A person
sitting in the palace with all possible luxuries and having painful "Vritties" or "Klishta Vritti" is a sick person and not a healthy person. Here is the
importance of Sage Patanjali’s teachings and the application of Ashtanga yoga.
Sage Patanjali in the
Samadhi Pada Chapter 1 verse 2nd
explains what Yoga is. Yoga is “Chitta Vritti Nirodhah” which can be defined as
the control over the compulsive cyclical actions of one of the aspects of the
mind, called ‘Chitta’. When the fluctuations of the mind are ceased in the 3rd
verse, he defines that, then the “Seer” called “Self” abides in its own nature.
Otherwise, one is verily identified with the cyclical actions of the mind. In
Chapter 1 verse 30 he defined almost nine obstacles ("Antarayas" or "Chitta Vikshepa") that create inconsistency in 'Chitta'.
Sage Patanjali offers
permanent and achievable solutions to these obstacles.
In Chapter 1/30
Vyadhi styana
sanshaya pramad alasyavirati bhrantidarshana labdhabhoomikatva navasthitatva
ni chittavikshepastentarayah
These obstacles
("Antarayas") are Vyadhi (illness and disease), "Styana" (dullness, mental
blockage, doubt, and procrastination), "Samsheya" (doubt and Indecisiveness), "Pramadha" (carelessness and negligence), "Alasya" (sloth and laziness), "Avirathi"(desire and sensual craving), "Bhranti Darshana" (Confusion, illusion, fantasy
and hallucination), "Alabhda" Bhumika (inability to attain a higher state of mind
and inability to gain grounding) and "Anavasthitatva" (unsteadiness and inability
to maintain the state that has been attained earlier).
Vyadhi:
Vyadhi literally
means illness or disease as the first obstacle in the path. If we suffer from
illness we can’t get the work done properly. Here Patanjali is mainly referring
to the psychosomatic diseases which involve our body and mind. It originates in
our mind as a result of stress, tension and strain. If you are undergoing worry
and a high level of anxiety your mind will absorb that imbalance and will
transfer it to the body. Another thing is we have to maintain a balance of
food, rest and sleep to maintain our metabolic activities.
Styana:
"Styana" is the dullness
and sluggishness we face. It is actually referring to mental laziness,
incompetence and lack of inclination towards work. Work is worship and it is
the sadhana or the daily spiritual practice one should remain in a mindful
state throughout the day. It also underlines the relationship of the body with
the living being. The tendency of listlessness or daydreaming to become
absorbed in a stream of thoughts will lead to unproductive imaginations.
Streams of thoughts are produced in the mind and one tends to follow them
unknowingly. This tells us the degree to which the mind has a hold over
someone. In yoga practice, the mind is considered a tool and one should gain
control of this tool and utilize it, rather than being victimized by it.
Samsheya:
Doubt and Indecisiveness
are considered very serious impediments to spiritual development. If we are in
a state of illusion, and the mind is oscillating like a pendulum it will block
the way to our success, spiritual goal and liberation. One should not fall
under the control of a distracted mind, for this, we have to take authoritative
help and guidance from the scriptures of ancient texts. This point has been
clearly written in Bhagavad Gita. Chapter 4th
and 40th verse says that “Ignorant and faithless persons
who doubt authoritative texts (Sasthra) do not attain divine consciousness;
they will fall down. For the doubting soul, there is happiness neither in this
world nor in the next”.
Pramadha:
Pramadha is
carelessness, negligence and delusion. It has been defined as the neglect to
practice the eight limbs of yoga and most specifically the process of
meditation. Of course, the neglect will come about because of the impetus of
stimulation from the mind. Even if we know the right and wrong things we
continue to travel on the wrong path. For example, we all know that smoking and
drinking alcohol is injurious to health and still, people are following this
path of destruction.
Alasya:
"Alasya" is lazy and does
not make the effort to succeed. If your diet is very heavy, it causes
lethargy because the digestive system takes away all the energy to function the
metabolic activities. Eventually, your physical body will become obese and obesity
puts you at risk for major health problems. The qualities of tamas and rajas
will be higher in your body and mind and this will retard the overall
function. This also results in complacency and procrastination of duties.
By adopting an appropriate lifestyle one will be able to become free from these
influences and feel enthusiasm and firmness. One should not stay in the comfort
zone of our life and venture out of it. It is the opposite of Tapas.
Persistence, determination and perseverance is the key to any success.
Avirathi:
It is non-abstention and
not being able to abstain from desire and sensual craving. According to Sage
Vyasa, it arises from the mental greed within the mind and is a result of
contemplation of the objects of the senses. This point is referenced in
Bhagavad Gita chapter 2nd verses 62nd
in which says that “While contemplating the object of senses, a person develops
attachment for them, and from such attachment, lust develops and from lust
anger arises”. It is a self-centred selfish desire.
Bhranti
Darshana:
It is Confusion,
illusion, fantasy and hallucination that is leading to false perceptions and
erroneous conceptions. Even though this state is fleeting, people think that worldly happiness is important and strive for it. Arrogance gives a heavy
price and only humility can pay rewards towards spiritual practice.
Alabhda Bhumika:
It is the inability to
attain a higher state of mind and the inability to gain true happiness and joy.
This is a great obstacle in the field of spiritual advancement to attain
pure consciousness. The feeling of Meditation practices is difficult, it is too
hard, I cannot attain self-realization all these arise from false ideas
and conceptions.
Anavasthitatvani:
It is the unsteadiness
and inability to maintain the state that has been attained earlier through yoga
practices. Sage Vijyanabhikshu (who was a philosopher said to live in the 15th
century BCE and the author of Yoga Varthika) who was an early commentator on
yoga sutras quotes a word in this regard from Vishnu Purana (it is one of the
eighteen Mahapuranas) which it states that “Even an elevated ‘Yogi’ can fall
down due to the worldly attachments''. Again in Bhagavad Gita chapter 2nd
verse 60 says that “Senses are so strong and impetuous, Oh! Arjuna,
that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavouring
to control them”. There are certain realities one faces with their spiritual
journey, nevertheless, adequate guidance and the association of spiritually
enlightened people will ensure our journey.
These obstacles
("Aantarayas") of scattered mind are mentioned in the yoga sutra which is one of our
major guides for it and provides solutions to get rid of the mental impurities
it is explained in the
Chapter 1 verse 32 is as
follows,
tatpratishedhartham
ekatattvabhyasah bhavanata shchittaprasadanam
The only way to
overcome these afflictions and causes is through the focused practice of one
principle and attaining ultimate truth (eka thathva abhyasa).