AI Overview
This phrase is the translation of the Sanskrit “Yogas citta vritti nirodhah,” the second sutra from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, meaning “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind”. The “fluctuations” include all the changing states of the mind, such as thoughts, memories, perceptions, and emotions. Through the practice of yoga, practitioners aim to become observers of these mental fluctuations to achieve a state of tranquility and inner stillness.
Key concepts
- Cessation of fluctuations: The goal is not to stop thinking entirely, but to cease being controlled by the mind’s constant changes.
- Observer status: Yoga helps you develop the ability to watch your thoughts without judgment, seeing them as temporary and fleeting.
- Root causes: The mind’s fluctuations are often caused by desires, aversions, attachments, ignorance, and the ego.
- Practice and non-attachment: The path to stillness is achieved through consistent practice (abhyasa) and non-attachment to the results (vairagya).
- Ultimate goal: The ultimate goal is to quiet the mind to achieve self-realization and a deeper connection with one’s true nature.
The phrase “Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind” is a translation of the second sutra of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, considered the foundational text of classical yoga. The original Sanskrit phrase is:
Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah
Translation of the Sanskrit
Breaking down the phrase helps to understand the full meaning:
- Yoga: Derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke,” “to join,” or “to unite”. It signifies the union of the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness.
- Citta: Refers to the mind-stuff, or consciousness itself, which includes the mind, intellect, and ego.
- Vritti: Means “fluctuations,” “modifications,” or “thought waves”. These are the ever-changing thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and memories that constantly ripple across our consciousness.
- Nirodhah: The quieting, restraint, or cessation of these fluctuations. It is a state of mastery over the mind’s incessant activity.
Yoga Basics
This concise statement defines the ultimate goal of yoga as a practice of stilling the “monkey mind” to reveal one’s true nature.
- Mind as a churning lake: The mind, full of vrittis, is often compared to a turbulent lake. In this state, it is impossible to see the clear bottom. Only when the winds (thoughts) cease and the water (consciousness) becomes perfectly still can one see to the bottom and perceive the true Self.
- Beyond physical postures: This sutra clarifies that yoga is not merely a set of physical exercises (asanas), but a profound philosophical and spiritual discipline aimed at achieving mental clarity and inner peace. The physical practice is seen as a preparation for this deeper inner work.
- Observing, not suppressing: The goal is not to completely stop thinking, but to detach from the thoughts and simply observe them without judgment or attachment. By cultivating a “witnessing presence,” we can stop identifying with every fleeting thought and emotion.
- The eight limbs of yoga: The rest of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras offer a detailed path, including the eight limbs of yoga, as a method for achieving this state of nirodhah. This systematic practice includes ethical guidelines, physical postures, breath control, and meditation.
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