Finding Stillness In The Mind With 'Yogash Chitta Vritti Nirodhah'
In the ancient text the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a guiding source for yogis, the second sutra, “Yogash Chitta Vritti Nirodhah,” holds some truly profound wisdom. It’s a sutra that has had a deep impact on my own holistic growth, so I wanted to share this with all of you. Here you’ll learn about the meaning of yoga sutra 1.2 and I’ll be sharing how it has impacted me personally.
Translating This Sutra
The yoga sutras are in a language called Sanskrit. Sanskrit is an ancient language in which many historic yogic texts are written. This makes sense since the word ‘yoga’ itself is a Sanskrit word. We have to remember that when we translate these sutras into English, we are only capturing a small part of what they mean. To further understand a sutra’s meaning, we can of course learn from teachers, but we can also learn from ourselves through working with the sutra in our own personal practice.
A simple overview of the meaning of yoga sutra 1.2, ‘yogash chitta vritti nirodhah’ is this: When you can find stillness in the mind, then you can experience yoga. (When we reference yoga here, we are talking about yoga as a state of being.)
Yoga As A State of Being, Not Just a Practice
When most people think of yoga, they envision a physical practice that might include things such as yoga poses, breathing, and meditation. But yoga is much more than just something we do; it’s something we embody. Throughout our yoga practice, in whatever form that is, we are working to embody the state of yoga within.
Remember that the word yoga is from the language of Sanskrit, so we can translate it to English to help us to better understand it. The word yoga translates to union. When we experience the state of yoga, we experience a state of complete union. This union is a deep connection with something greater than ourselves, whether we call it the divine, the universe, or something else, yoga is not concerned with the name or label. It is simply concerned with feeling a connection with something greater than you.
Yoga sutra 1.2 tells us that by quieting the mind, we open the door to this experience of unity.
So you’re telling me that all I have to do to experience divine connection is quiet my mind? That sounds too simple… and yes, it is simple, but it is not necessarily easy. Achieving stillness in the mind is most definitely easier said than done. We have thoughts that constantly arise in many forms, be it replaying past events, worrying about the future, or simply wandering to who knows where. However, this sutra reminds us that we are not our thoughts, and we are not controlled by the mind—we have the power to step back and become the observer of the mind.
If you have no idea how to quiet your mind, don’t worry. This is why there are many other sutras throughout the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The other sutras that you find in the book are there to help give you guidance towards experiencing this state of yoga.
Who Is in Control: The Mind or the Soul?
One of the most transformative realizations I’ve come to through my own spiritual practice and with the help of this sutra is that the mind is not in control—the soul is. The mind generates thoughts, emotions, and reactions, but we have the ability to step back and witness them; to become the observer.
The mind constantly generates thoughts, often reminding us of things we would rather not think about. This can be frustrating for sure, but it’s important to remember that we have the ability to control and direct our minds. By stepping back and observing our thoughts rather than becoming entangled in them, we can learn to quiet the mind and guide it towards a more peaceful state. While this may not be easy, simply acknowledging that we have this power can be a significant step on the path to finding the state of yoga within. By learning to observe rather than react, we begin to quiet the mind and reclaim our soul power.
Through my deeper exploration of this sutra, I have found that its message is not necessarily about practicing positive thinking. While positive thinking can be beneficial, I do believe that uplifting words and thoughts have a positive impact on our overall well-being, this sutra is more about the power of choice in where we place our focus. We can choose to dwell on negativity, which can pull us down, or we can focus on the good, which can elevate us.
The way we perceive the world is shaped by our own mental projections. Do we primarily focus on what is bad, or do we seek to focus on what is good? This does not mean ignoring difficulties or pretending negativity or bad things don’t exist in the world. Acknowledging problems is necessary for growth and change, but they do not need to be our sole focus. We have the ability to also see good and to recognize beauty, kindness, and light in the world. We can choose to primarily direct our minds in a way that supports our inner peace and spiritual journey.
More Insight On The Meaning Of Yoga Sutra 1.2: A Path to Liberation
According to Sri Swami Satchidananda’s translation of the sutra 1.2, our mental state is either a form of bondage or liberation. And this mental state is a choice.
We can either choose to feel bound, as if we have no control, as if everything bad always happens to us, and/or as if there’s primarily negativity in the world. Or, we can choose liberation. We can choose to focus on the good, to cultivate a sense of freedom, and to recognize that we are more than just our body and mind. The recognition that we are more than just a body and mind can be truly liberating on its own. When we choose the liberation path, we recognize that our thoughts are simply tools the mind uses to help us interact with the world—but they do not define us.
Just as your body doesn’t define you, your mind doesn’t define you—it’s really your soul. While the mind, body, and soul are all connected in this human experience, the mind and body serve as tools, while the soul is the driver. Remember this and use that awareness to guide your thoughts, helping you find those moments of stillness in the ever-wandering mind. Remind yourself that you have the power to quiet the mind and direct your thoughts where you want them to go.
Bringing The Qualities Of Sutra 1.2 Into Your Daily Life
It can be great to learn about yoga philosophy, but how can you put this knowledge to use? In this next section, you’ll find a few tips on how to embody the meaning of yoga sutra 1.2: yogash chitta vritti nirodhah.
Use an Affirmation:
You can use affirmations to help to remember the qualities of this sutra.
Remind yourself daily: I choose liberation. I choose to be free. Recognize that liberation is your choice!
Practice Meditation:
Meditation is one of the most effective tools for observing and quieting the mind.
This is because in meditation, you can watch the body and mind and you can start to direct the mind to where you want it to go. You become the observer. If you’re new to meditation, start by simply noticing your thoughts, then allow them to fade into the background, like a wave coming to shore and then returning to the vast ocean.
Write It Down:
Visually seeing this sutra written somewhere is a great way to start bringing this into your life.
Write the sutra down and place it somewhere visible. Even if you’re not fluent in Sanskrit, its presence will remind you of your intention.
Notice Your Thought Patterns:
When negative or overwhelming thoughts arise, take a step back.
Can you observe them without attaching to them? Can you let them drift into the background and start to float away?
Mantra:
You can also use this sutra as a mantra that you repeat in your mind or aloud. ‘Yogash Chitta Vritti Nirodhah.’
I would recommend saying this aloud as then you can really feel into the vibration of the words. Practicing this sutra as a mantra also helps you to start to explore the deeper personal meaning that this mantra holds for you.
We actually do this in the Patreon meditation which I talk more about at the end of this post, so if you prefer to be guided, you may enjoy that option!
Personal Influence From Sutra 1.2
“If we can control the waves of thought that come through our mind and let them start to fade away, then we can experience this state of yoga.” This is a direct quote that I love from Sri Swami Satchidananda’s translation of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
I love this quote because it reminds us to simply notice our thoughts rather than ignoring them. Instead of resisting or suppressing thoughts, we can simply observe them and allow them to fade into the background. If a thought isn’t serving you in this moment, acknowledge it and let it gently drift away.
When we begin practicing this, it helps us see beyond our thoughts. Thoughts can sometimes distract us from connecting with our spiritual side, and they can make it hard to find stillness. The more we practice letting the thoughts fade into the background, the clearer our mind becomes, allowing us to experience the deeper state of yoga.
As someone who has OCD and has often felt very defined by my thoughts, this sutra is one of my personal favorites. Honestly, the first time I read this sutra was one of those times where I felt a real positive shift in my OCD recovery journey. But I believe that this sutra can benefit so many people, as we often attach deeply to what our minds tell us, regardless of being diagnosed with a mental health issue. I think that most of us can benefit from remembering that we have the power to step back, observe, and let thoughts drift away. I think we can also benefit from remembering that the mind doesn’t define us.
We have the power to find the stillness that leads us to truly experience yoga.
Ways To Work with This Sutra
I hope that this post has provided you with a better understanding of the meaning of yoga sutra 1.2 and that you experience the power and transformative qualities of this sutra. If you’re interested in practices that go along with this sutra specifically, we have covered this topic in the past on my Patreon. There you’ll get a 15 minute guided meditation and a 50 minute yoga practice specifically dedicated to this sutra.
You can find more information here: Join My Patreon Community!
There’s a new topic with new practices released every month for members. This topic was covered a few months ago so if you don’t see the videos at the top, that’s why! You can simply put in the search bar ‘yoga sutra 1.2’ and the practices will come up!
I’d love to have you as part of the community on Patreon. But regardless of if you join or not, if you read to the end of this post, I want to thank you and I want you to thank yourself for pursuing spiritual growth. The light within me recognizes and honors the light within you, Namaste.
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