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Saturday, February 8, 2025

5 States of Thoughts Clarification in Yoga Sutra 1.1 – Fitsri Yoga


yoga chitta vritti nirodha

Yoga is the cessation of the actions of the thoughts.
योग: चित्त-वृत्ति निरोध: (In Sanskrit ) ~ Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.2

With this phrase, Maharishi Patanjali, the creator of a well-known yogic textual content ‘Yoga Sutra’ cleared the complete goal of yoga in simply 3 phrases.

Understanding the Sutra:

Chitta, also known as the thoughts, is continually fluctuating. These fluctuations replicate the imbalance of the three Gunas – Sattva (purity), Rajas (exercise), and Tamas (dullness) – which manifest as Vrittis. Thus, the aim of yoga is the cessation (Nirodha) of those fluctuations (Vrittis) of the thoughts (Chitta). This results in a state of Samadhi, the place the thoughts stays calm and undisturbed even in difficult circumstances.

To attain absolute calmness and steadiness, one should perceive the varied states of the human thoughts.

5 States of Thoughts

In Vyasa’s commentary on Yoga Sutra stanza 1.1, he states that yoga is Samadhi (contemplation). Samadhi, a key attribute of Chitta, pervades all 5 states of the thoughts, often known as the 5 Bhumi of Chitta. These states are:

The 5 states of thoughts by which Samadhi lies are:

  1. Kshipta – Chaotic or most fickle frame of mind
  2. Mudha – Uninteresting or Lazy frame of mind
  3. Vikshipta – Partially targeted thoughts
  4. Ekagra – One-pointed thoughts
  5. Niruddha – Absolutely absorbed thoughts

Now the purpose needs to be famous down right here is that The Samadhi within the first 3 states of thoughts just isn’t a part of ‘Yoga Samadhi’ as a result of their continuity may be very unsteadiness or in these states, thoughts adjustments steadily. Although, Samadhi lies there for a tiny fraction.

Yoga is definitely when Samadhi lies within the final two states of thoughts (Ekagrata and Niruddha).

Certainly, Understanding the traits of every frame of mind helps in reaching the ‘Yoga Samadhi’.

1. Kshipta – The Monkey Thoughts

kshipta state of mind - monkey mind

Kshipta or scattered is the bottom and commonest state of the thoughts which manifests throughout waking hours. This state is dominated by the “rajas” guna due to essentially the most time in waking hours concerned in some bodily or psychological exercise.

On this psychological state, an individual alternates between excessive states –love and hate, like and dislike, pleasure and ache, enthusiasm and tedium. The thoughts is completely stressed as it’s all the time leaping from one thought to a different. There’s a lack of readability in imaginative and prescient and also you would possibly really feel anxious, confused, unable to know and relate peacefully with others in your relationships. Right here, the thoughts lacks crucial cognitive talents which replicate within the type of poor decision-making expertise within the each day conditions of life.

Right here on this state, managing even the mundane each day tasks turns into a problem for the wandering thoughts. This has grow to be a typical state in as we speak’s worrying instances. The thoughts is extraordinarily stressed as it’s all the time leaping from one thought to a different. In monkey thoughts state, you aren’t in a position to conduct your each day life with ease and calm.

Signs of Ksipta State

1. Lack of decision-making means
2. Restlessness
3. Confusion and absolute lack of readability
4. Nervousness

How To Deal with Monkey Thoughts

Yoga lets you perceive that you just (the knower) should not your ideas and therefore, you’ll be able to observe your ideas and nonetheless not get recognized with them. By being a witness, you possibly can handle and prioritize your consideration solely in the direction of wholesome, essential and constructive ideas patterns whereas letting go of the undesired ones.

For instance, you possibly can establish and drop unhealthy patterns like waking up late, unsuitable meals habits, unfavourable self-talk, complaining. Equally, you possibly can consciously inculcate desired life patterns into your life. By doing this, you’re giving clear instructions to your thoughts in order that it stops wandering and focuses solely on what’s required in the mean time. On this approach, Yoga can assist you to be current in the mean time with better consideration and ease.

2. Mudha – The Donkey thoughts

muddha state of mind - donkey mind

The Mudha or Uninteresting frame of mind is dominated by the ‘tamas’ guna by which the thoughts is sluggish, sleepy and missing vitality. Because of the sluggish nature of thoughts, an absence the power noticed on this state to take care of refined and deep problems with life.

Most of us normally oscillate between Kshipta and Mudha states in the course of the waking hours. We’re impelled in the direction of an object of sense by means of rajas nature of our conduct. Nonetheless, if the specified result’s denied to us or better effort is required, the boring thoughts because of lack of focus discover excuses and entraps us into a sense of dissatisfaction. On this case, tamas guna can drive us right into a state of unhappiness or despair.

In nutshell, Mudha frame of mind is if you end up not in a position to hear your internal voice and talk to your true self.

Signs of Mudha State

  1. Lack of power and vitality
  2. Poor focus
  3. Distorted reference to the internal self
  4. Melancholy /Disappointment

How To Deal with Donkey Thoughts

This principally occurs in instances the place you need to adapt to a very new life state of affairs and also you lose a way of id within the newfound area.

To deal with thoughts on this state, drop all of your ideas, and reconnect to your internal world by means of Yoga and meditation in order that you’ll be able to discover your final true self which is able to stick with you in all conditions of life. Yoga helps you to remain related with non secular self in an effort to transfer by means of altering life conditions with newfound ease.

3. Vikspita – The Butterfly thoughts

vikshipta state of mind - butterfly mind

There are moments in life the place sattva guna begins to dominate and the thoughts can focus and focus. We really feel balanced, pleased and clear in all spheres and life seems to be a lovely move. Then, as some tough and painful conditions crop up, our thoughts will get distracted and we fall again into previous patterns. The thoughts is pulled away from Sattva again to rajas or tamas.

That is the Vikspita state the place the thoughts is alternating between moments of readability and distraction. On this state, you aren’t totally in command of your ideas. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to pay attention to the subtleties of life.

For instance, in our Yoga follow when are totally absorbed into meditation, we expertise moments of absolute calmness and focus. Nonetheless, when there may be the slightest distraction, we lose our focus. We get distracted and blame the exterior elements for making a disturbance. We blame the surroundings and never our notion. On this state of affairs, constant follow of Yoga lets you perceive that we are able to by no means change the exterior surroundings and allows you to deal with life with equanimity in all conditions.

Signs of Vikspita State

  1. Calm thoughts, nevertheless, will get simply distracted
  2. Higher focus
  3. Thoughts is usually secure and different instances confused.

How To Deal with Butterfly Thoughts

By focusing extra on meditation, it is possible for you to to carry on to the intervals of calmness and make them a approach of your life. Common meditation follow will even instill a greater sense of readability in order that you don’t get simply distracted by difficulties and deal with life with equanimity

 4. Ekagra – One-pointed thoughts

ekagra mind - concentrated mind

All internal noise has calmed down and the thoughts is now peaceable, conscious and prepared for focus. In Ekagra frame of mind, one can convey their full consideration at one level, with out affecting by any exterior companies so long as an individual desires to carry. It outcomes, dies down of all confusion and anxiousness of the particular person.

In yogic sense, what you understand of an object is the state of Samadhi is the one “direct notion” .What’s perceived by means of 5 senses is impaired and incomplete notion, due to the imperfections of senses, thoughts, and buddhi that are beneath the affect of the unfavourable ego.

Vyasa in his commentary on yoga sutra mentioned Ekagra or one-pointed thoughts erase all of the afflictions which trigger struggling and pull out an individual from the bondage of karma.

Signs of Ekagra Thoughts

  1. Higher focus
  2. Extra consciousness and readability
  3. Thinned ego
  4. Awakening of instinct

Thoughts In Ekagra State

Thoughts on this state is alleged to be in the yoga or one can say, it’s the purpose the place one’s yogic journey has began in actual sense.

By this frame of mind, you discovered a single-pointed focus in life which is able to make it easier to to filter by means of your experiences, dissolve your ego, awaken your intuitiveness and sense issues past the 5 senses. You’ll really feel completely in command of your ideas and actions.

You’ll want to stay constant in your Yoga follow as a way to keep this state.

5. Niruddha – fully-focused thoughts

nirudha state of mind

After passing by means of the state of Ekgrah (one-pointedness), one is ready to in a position maintain on to a single level of focus. Right here, the eye is totally arrested and focused on one level.

At this stage, no previous or new impressions can distract the thoughts from level of focus and full stillness is reached. One is ready to glide by means of life with utmost grace. There is no such thing as a response to life’s ever-changing conditions. One can soar to even larger psychological states in his Yogic journey from this level.

Within the state of Nirodha, the thoughts is now totally beneath the management of the yogi and all of the fluctuations come beneath the direct management of mind (sattvic buddhi) versus being managed by ego. When the Yogi sustains within the state of Niruddha for lengthy intervals, the thoughts reaches a state of equilibrium of the trigunas which results in liberation (Kaivalya)

Signs

  1. Single-pointed focus
  2. Secure thoughts
  3. Grace within the general aura
  4. The whole stillness of ideas

Thoughts in Niruddha State

Although Niruddha frame of mind is the final word aim of yoga (Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha), it is advisable proceed your yoga follow and continually analyze your psychological state. Additionally, discover new methods to take care of and develop in your consciousness.

Conclusion

In our each day life, most of us could be seen within the first three states of thoughts. These 3 states of thoughts are accountable for abiding us with the exterior world.

  • The Kishipta thoughts is just too stressed to take care of focus and steadiness.
  • The Mudha thoughts lacks the power to make an effort to focus.
  • The Vikshipta thoughts lacks consistency and is unable to take care of focus.

There can be moments of focus and steadiness and at different instances, the Yogi will get distracted and trapped into previous habits. Nonetheless, Vikshipta thoughts can keep focus by means of willpower, self-discipline and constant follow.

Final 2 states of thoughts (Ekagra and Niruddha) helps a yogi to internalize the attention. Therefore, it helps in reaching larger states of focus.

The above classification of thoughts states helps us to know our personal psychological state in order that we are able to develop in our ranges of consciousness in our non secular or materials pursuits.

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