The Yoga Tutor

The Various States of Mind
[ Excerpt from The Science of Yoga, page 529 ]

The yogis have defined five states of the chitta (mind) as follows:
  1. Mudha - Dull
  2. Kshipta - Distracted
  3. Vikshipta - Partially concentrated (less distracted)
  4. Ekagrata - Concentrated (one-pointed)
  5. Nirodha - Fully contained, pure consciousness
In "Vibhuti Pada," sutra 11, Sage Patanjali states:

"SARVARTHA EKAGRATAYOH KSAYODAYAU CITASYA SAMADHI-PARINAMAH"
Translation - samadhi transformation is the (gradual) dispersing of the distractions and simultaneous rising of one-pointedness.

Most people possess a chitta which can be termed either as mudha, kshipta or vikshipta. In the samyama stages of yoga, the chitta begins to undergo a transformation -- a gradual replacement of the 3 lower mental states with that of ekagrata, or one-pointedness. The yogi seeks to continually cultivate ekagrata and gain control over the dull and distracted states of mind...

[Continued...]


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Foreword
About Yoga Home Study
Section 1 - Getting Started
Section 2 - Foundations of Yoga (1)
Section 3 - Foundations of Yoga (2)
Section 4 - Classical Ashtanga Yoga
Section 5 - Modern Yoga
Section 6 - The History of Yoga
Section 7 - Yama Niyama Introduction
Section 8 - Awareness
Section 9 - The Yoga Diet
Section 10 - Yoga Philosophy
Section 11 - The Yoga of Perception
Section 12 - The Yoga Path
Section 13 - The Virtue of Restraint
Section 14 - The Classical Yoga Texts
Section 15 - Yoga Cleansing
Section 16 - The Law of Cause and Effect
Section 17 - The Yoga of Digestion
Section 18 - Yoga Psychology
Section 19 - Yoga Psychology (Part 2)
Section 20 - Yoga Psychology (Part 3)
Section 21 - Yoga Psychology (Part 4)
Section 22 - Controlling The Senses
Section 23 - The Higher Stages of Yoga
Section 24 - Higher Stages of Yoga (Part 2)