December 2019 - Collectors' Edition, VOLUME 4, Yogic Psychology |
December 03, 2019
Yogic psychology – introduction
Have you ever thought to understand psychology through Yoga? Yoga is a vast science of the physical body, subtle bodies and the soul, exploring the origin of consciousness, and what causes changes in the field of consciousness. In this series of articles, DAAJI explains the fundamental basis of yogic psychology, which is the ancient science of Raja Yoga, discussed in texts like the Ashtavakra Gita, the Sangeetha Vashista, and which was first codified by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. DAAJI enlightens us on this understanding of the human mind and the various......
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Vrittis
The five vrittis are the types of thought patterns or tendencies that are the energy patterns we create in the field of our consciousness or chit. ‘Whirlpool’ is a literal translation of the word...
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Kleshas
Let’s first recap and remind ourselves of the fundamental principle of yogic psychology: that our original inner mental state is one of purity, stillness and Samadhi, which is also the ultimate goal of Yoga....
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Vikshepas
In this series so far, we have seen how complexities and impurities start to accumulate, by exploring the normal everyday workings of the human mind – how the 5 vrittis work in the field...
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Vighnas
Remember for a moment that the base of your consciousness is pure and still. When you have some time, perhaps this evening when you have wound down from the day, or very early in...
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Solutions
Our journey in Yoga is to return to the purity and simplicity of consciousness at the center of our being. As we divest more and more layers, our mental and emotional state lightens progressively....
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True knowledge and inaccurate knowledge
Here we will explore the first two of the vrittis – pramana and viparyaya. The definitions “right or accurate knowledge” and “wrong or inaccurate knowledge” do not really do justice to the words pramana...
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Imagination
Now let’s explore the third vritti, vikalpa, which means “imagination” or “fantasy.” Imagination is a very important mental faculty with which we form and create new ideas, images and concepts that cannot always be...
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Sleep
All manifest life seems to require a period of sleep, of calm, in which to gain added strength, renewed vigor, for the next manifestation, or awakening to activity. Thus is the march of all...
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Memory
Try to imagine life without memory. How would you learn from your mistakes? You would not remember how to do those things that make up your daily routine, such as making breakfast, going to...
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