Yoga Sutra Reflections Session 9: Five Vrittis

Integrating Ancient Wisdom in Modern Life: Five Thought Patterns

1. There are five types of thought patterns, complicated and clarity/clear. THERE IS NO GREATER POWER than the power of thought. Thought is the essence of individuality. The flow of a man’s life is centred in thought; all that is manifested within him is expressed through thought. It is thought that separates man from the animal.
2. It must be remembered, however, that there is a great difference between possessing the power of thought and being overpowered by thought. Not only is there difference, there are also contradictions involved. When a man is overpowered by thought he becomes incapable of thinking.
3. Although the power to think is innate within us most of our thoughts belong to other people. Developing one’s power to think involves an inner search; borrowing the thoughts of others necessitates looking outside oneself.
4. The man who is preoccupied with the study of knowledge negates his own ability to think. Real knowledge cannot be acquired outside oneself. Only knowledge that grows out of one’s own consciousness is genuine.
5. Our mind is thinking faculty, the sense of I-ness – the study of knowledge and the discriminating faculty – Real knowledge. Our thoughts patterns are fluctuations of the mind.
6. Thoughts patterns come from three sources – Birth Impression, Family Impression and Karma Impression. Birth Impression we pull towards certain people or philosophy without any reason. Previous life’s dying thoughts or circumstance and our incompletion becomes Birth Impression in this life. Our religion, discipline and behaviour is from Family Impression. Habits created through our action is Karma Impression. Combination of these three impressions creates our mind.
7. How we can discriminate whether the thought pattern is complicated or clear. The thought pattern which gives you happiness, silence, and libration is clear. The thought pattern which creates duality and judgement is complicated.
8. Yoga says there are five thought patterns – Right Perception, Misperception, Imaginary Knowledge, Sleep, and Memory. Right Perception comes from three dimensions – Direct Perception, Inference, Scriptural Evidence. 
9. If we focus like a seeker, who always creates a thought pattern from any circumstances which allows him to move towards his self-discipline. Because they learn from every circumstance. Their focus is on learning. They are capable of creating thought patterns which gives them clarity and not complication. They are not slaves to thought patterns.