Introduction To Human Psychology - Insights from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra being the central text of Yoga philosophy holds its most important place in the study of Yogic science. Over the centuries this text has left its immense impressions on the mind of spiritual luminaries in India and over the last century western scholars and philosophers have also become interested in studying of this text. The central aim of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is to attain liberation through control of mind. So, this book is an important resource to understand the evaluation of human mind and its work chemistry. The most unique contribution of Patanjali in the field of psychology is introductions of many path breaking concepts regarding functioning of human mind like Chitta Bumi, Vritti, Klesha, Samskara, Parinama etc. In waking state mind can be existed in five different states called Chitta Bhumi. Each of these states is important to understand the process of concentration. Patanjali propounded the role of mind in the process of cognition and conation by introducing two new concepts like Vritti and Klesha, which were previously absent in any Vedic texts. Vrittis are the cognitive modifications of mind and can be existed in five ways. Similarly, Kleshas are the various reactions within mind in form of impulses, desires, drives, emotions etc. in response to previous experience of pleasures and pain, which can be remained within mind in four possible states. Both Vrittis and Kleshas leave their residual impressions on mind known as Samskara. According to Patanjali, Samskaras are of two types: Karma Bijas which give rise to different desires, instinctual impulses, and emotional drives; and Vasanas which give rise to memory. Every action leaves a residual impression in the mind known as the Karma Bija. The sum of Karma Bijas is known as Karmashaya, which Patanjali considered as the root cause of rebirth. Destruction or inactivation of Karmashaya is what Patanjali said as the way to prevent rebirth. Cessation of Vrittis, Kleshas and Samskaras can lead a Yogi to deactivation of Karmashaya, which is the way of attaining Kaivalya i.e. liberation from the cycle of birth and death - the central aim of Patanjali’s Yoga philosophy.