What is Vritti?

The topic of Vritti confuses a lot of people. It is important to explain in a deeper way. In Yoga-Sutra the first shloka mentioned Chitta and Vritti. The human body has millions of nerves. From a general perspective, we think that we see through our eyes. But that is not accurate. A visually impaired person has eyes as well. Then does not he see?

The answer is simple: organs are attached to the nerves which are responsible for sending in receiving information to various organs. It means that the organ is not fully responsible for seeing things but instead it is the nervous system that regulates our vision. The organ is merely an instrument. Everything in our body, physical and non-physical, is connected to our mind. Whatever information of the outside world is acquired, is processed by Buddhi, which reacts. The processes of manas, ahamkara, ego, indriyas and buddhi are called 'Chitta'.

It reacts in the form of thoughts. The thoughts that drop in the vast ocean of mind, generate ripples. The waves of thoughts are Vrittis. Thoughts are called 'Aahar' which literally means intake. just like how we consume food, we consume our thoughts. However, it is not something that is taken from outside but is sent by Chitta into the pool of thoughts. You must have observed it many times during a movie that contains powerful scenes. The eyes see it, the senses receive them, the reaction of the senses flashes with egoism and eventually exposes to our Atma. Therefore, the thoughts generated are not only limited to the top surface of the lake but impact deeply. The internal takes full control over the body and mind through the instruments existing within us. Isn't it amazing how things transform into something else?

If the water of the lake is clear and clear, the entire lake will be free from all dirt and the person outside will clearly see the bottom of the lake. The more Vritiis are reduced, the clearer the bottom surface of the lake becomes. In other words, the Atma can be seen when the waves of thoughts are less and the mind is steady, mentioned in Yoga sutra. As a result, the clear lake produces a highly sattvik lake. Some people mistake Sattvikta as dullness. The minds which are constantly seeking outside pleasure tend to have more unrest within which triggers them to work more to gain those pleasure. In contrast to this, a calm man has control over vrittis and conquers many negative outcomes of vritis as well.

Our chitta often attempts to push s towards the state of higher consciousness but our senses become a hurdle in the process. It is required that chitta gets our help to return back to the pure state. In the process, 'yoga' becomes the first step. Do not mistake segregating Dhyan (meditation) and yoga as they both are the same.

What kind of Vrittis do we possess? It is hope, worry, insecurity, deceitfulness, egoism, imperfection, possessiveness, effort, overthinking and so on. By helping chitta, the vrittis dissolves and purity of consciousness begins. The Chitta is manifested in the form of scattering, darkening, gathering, one-pointed, and concentrate.