THE MIND- MODIFICATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

THE MIND- MODIFICATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Every process of our mind is happening as a picture, feeling, experience, as a state of consciousness. These processes can be categories in five different modifications called Vritti. By cleansing the mind of these processes we can move forward in awakening the benefits of  living in the NOW. It not that these vrittis are good or bad that makes them worthy of study, it is their effect upon the state of our mind that is of interest

The first vritti- PRAMANA

Pramana is the correct knowledge, when we directly or indirectly try to gain a picture or knowledge about the true nature of something.

The second vritti- VIPARYAYA

Viparyaya is the incorrect knowledge. Patanjali says: "Viparyaya or Illusion is false knowledge formed of a thing as other than what it is." - Yoga Sutras (I.8).

The third vritti- VIKALPA

Vikalpa is connected to our imagination and fantasy and it is a form of delusional thinking. This is when our thought process forms an opinion that is totally deformed because it has nothing to do with the true state of reality.

The fourth vritti- NIDRA

Nidra are the sensations and experience that we have while dreaming.

The fifth vritti- SMRTI

Smrti are our memories. When they shape our thinking subconsciously they are not part of vritti, when our memory is activated and forms a picture then they become vritti. We all have many memories, but only when we activate a particular one in a situation our mind stars to associate that situation with the memory and we have the same experience.