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Patanjal Yog

Now Yoga will be explained (1.1).  
 
Yoga is seccience of mind
Yoga is science of mind and beyond. So before we start explaining Yoga, we must understand what mind is and how it functions. Theoretically to understand a system, it is essential to decompose the system into sub-components. Though apparently it makes the system a little more complex, but it increases the depth of knowledge at an intellectual level, which makes the practical easy.
 
We are not Mind
First of all we need to understand that we are not mind. Mind is a tool attached on to us and helps us to operate in the material World which is made of time, space and unit. As a general rule, a utility item (mind) is always for someone to use and not for itself. Mind may or may not be there, but we are always there. Mind is basically a series of thoughts, which are linear in nature, wherein each through emerges, stays for some time and then merges back in the substratum of consciousness. We can observe gaps between two thoughts where mind does not exist, known as no-mind. Mind can not simultaniously observe a thought with another thought. The one who is watching the thought simultaniously is different from mind. We can also feel the absence of mind in the deep sleep i.e. dreamless sleep. In deep sleep, mind along with senses becomes dormant and non-functional. Even when mind is dormant in deep-sleep, consciousness can still experiences the absense of mind. Also we should note that our likes and dislikes i.e. mind itself, keep on changing with the passage of time and environment around us. So we can say mind is relative and dependent upon absolute existence.
 

 
Mind and its pattern
Typical worldly mind runs on pre-defined grooves and have a set pattern to follow. Throughout the life, consciously or unconsciously, mind is striving hard to attain happiness and avoid non-happiness. By definition happiness and non-happiness is conducive and non-conducive environment respectively, which varies from mind to mind i.e. past conditioning.
 
We are endowed with body, senses, mind, intellect and memory, which make us capable of interacting with Worldly objects, ideas and situations etc. The proximity of an object generates knowledge about the object. Then mind starts contemplation and identifying itself with the object by projecting a complete future (happiness or conducive environment), which is the seed of the desire. Further desire manifests and mind decides to attain the desired object. In order to attain the object, mind exerts its influence on the gross equipment (body) and forces it to take series of action to attain the desired object. The result of this action is a mix of conducive or non-conducive environment in varying ratio.
 
Now the achieved conduciveness will either consolidates predefined likes, or creates new liking for the attained object. Likes give rise to attachment to the object along with fear of losing it, which further gives rise to the greed i.e. to have more. When mind repeatedly moves on the new pattern, it becomes a habit, wherin mind  unconsciously flows in the pre-defined groves.
 
Any obstruction in achieving the desired conducive environment or facilitation on the way to non-conducive environment is dealt with worry and anger, which leads to distortion of knowledge and loss of focus. In this state, mind losses its power to discriminate, which leads to downfall and non-fulfillment of the objective. This outcome further amplifies the non-conducive environment and mind gets trapped in the vicious circle, leading to greater pain and misery.
 
To analyse and understand the above is known as self-study (Swadhya).
 
 
 
Happiness is the root cause of non-happiness
Happiness derived from temporary object is also momentary. It emerges, stays for a short duration and then merges back into non-happiness. The same is true for non-happiness. Both happiness and non-happiness are complimentary to each other like light and it's shadow. Happiness is less sadness and sadness is less happiness - two sides of the same coin. Mind attains this little happiness at the cost of enormous non-happiness, which exists in all the phases of the life time of the desired object. Indirectly, mind generates pain in attaining the desired object, safe-guarding and maintaining the attained object and while enjoying the object. Even after the destruction of the object, memory of enjoyment creates pain and misery.
 
The bliss, which is beyond the duality of happiness and non-happiness
The derived happiness is nothing but distorted form of perpetual bliss, which comes from inner being. Bliss is beyond the duality of happiness and sadness. Through mind, the external objects are acting as a stimulus for bliss to surface up for a short duration. Also it’s interesting to note that the same object can give happiness or sadness to different people, because of their past conditioning. Though it looks impossible, but conditioned mind can be easily de-conditioned with various yogic techniques. Essentially this means that we can de-learn and re-structure our mind – thus eliminate the role of external dependencies. This newly crafted mind is natural and is always in eternal bliss without any reason.
 
Mind and its functions
Let’s further drill-down and explode the various functions of mind. We will start with a simplest transaction which happens in a restaurant. When we look at a particular food item, words written in the menu acts as a stimuli, which helps the mind to reproduce corresponding form of food item and its related past experience from our memory. Flipping through various food items is an activity carried out by mind. Then intelligence takes over and makes decision based upon different options provided by the mind. After that ego asserts, gives an order for the selected food item and someone beyond ego enjoys the food. So with the above example we have understood the following -
  1. World around us is collection of objects which are made of five elements viz. space, air, fire, water and earth. We perceive these external objects with our five senses i.e. hear, touch, see, taste and smell. Five elements i.e. space, air, fire, water and earth are directly mapped to five senses i.e. hear, touch, see, taste and smell. For example fire i.e. light enables an eye to see an external object. Similarly without water we will not able to taste anything. Space is necessary to carry sound waves to the receiving ear and so on.  
  2. External information collected through our five senses gets passed on to mind, which is responsible for conceiving and retention of alternative ideas of external objects. Mind is directly connected with five senses and controls the available choices, emotions and feelings etc.
  3. There after intellect comprehends and decides between alternative ideas produced by mind. Intelligence controls discrimination, decision, thought and rationality etc.
  4. Then ego helps us to act according to what has been decided by intelligence. Ego is an idea of “I” and mine, which apparently divides the Whole and creates the play of duality. Ego is responsible for actions and reactions. A majority of people lead their life in a reactive mode and not aware what action is. Reaction is when our action is triggered and controlled by an external action of non-self.
  5. Chitta is the basic faculty through which mind operates i.e. combination of conscious, subconscious, unconscious, memory and more.  
  6. Consciousness is the source, which actually makes the above process happen; the way electricity energizes various electrical equipments. Consciousness is also known as Pursha, Atma, Soul etc. Senses, mind, intellect, ego and Chitta are internal equipments which are attached to Pursha to exhaust its experience and realize the ultimate Truth.
Ego is like a Concave lens, which has ability to focus Consciousness at either level such as objects, senses, mind, intelligence, Chitta or Consciousness itself. Depending upon past latent tendencies (Samskara), different people stick their Consciousness at different levels. For example a Worldly person will base its ego at the level of objects and senses. An emotional and intelligent person will be at mind and intellect level respectively. An artist, scientist and seekers are established in Chitta. And a realized person will establish its Consciousness in Consciousness itself. Grip of time and space weakens as we move from senses to Consciousness.
  

 
States of mind
If we analyze, we will discover that there are two extreme ends viz. inertness on one end and Consciousness on other. Inertness is ever changing and indirectly depends upon Consciousness, which is the source. Since inertness is ever changing, it gives apparent and transient happiness or non-happiness. When we encounter an object, mind assumes the form of that object in our Chitta. As a habit, every single moment mind assumes various forms, which are known as fluctuations of mind or thought or movement of mind or Vrittis. Depending upon number and intensity of fluctuations, mind has following five states –
  1. Restless : Dullness, attachment, fearful, deluded and lazy
  2. Infatuated : Miserable, full of tension, lack of patience, involved in Worldly activities and unstable
  3. Distracted : Fluctuating, happy, forgiving, patient and helping
  4. One pointed : Controlled, concentrative, based upon actual knowledge, steadfast and clear
  5. At rest naturally : Pure, natural and established in true-nature.

First three stages are not conducive for Yoga. Yoga starts from fourth stage and gets concludes in fifth stage, when the mind's movement ceases.

Yoga is the ending of the mind from taking different forms or fluctuations (1.2). The mind which was always connected and flowing out through five senses becomes internalized and thus folds it back in itself. In the absence of these forms, one rests in its own nature (1.3). In the state away from own nature, one identifies with the forms of mind (1.4).
 
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