Yoga Sutra 1- 2 - YOGAS CITTA VRTTI NIRODHAH - The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga.Swami Satchidananda tells us that Patanjali gives us the goal of Yoga in this sutra. For a keen student this one Sutra would be enough because the rest of them only explain this one. If the restraint of the mental modifications is achieved one has reached the goal of Yoga.The entire science of Yoga is based on this Patanjali has given the definition of Yoga and at the same time the practice. "If you can control the rising of the mind into ripples, you will experience Yoga."
The following is the transliteration of each word of the sutra :
YOGAS: Yoga - union
CITTA: of the mind-stuff
VRITTI: modifications
NIRODHAH: restraint
Swami Satchidananda informs us that Chittam is the sum total of the mind. And within the chittam there are different levels. The basic mind is called ahamkara, or the ego, the "I" feeling. This gives rise to the intellect or discriminative faculty which is called buddhi. Another stage is called manas, the desiring part of the mind, which gets attracted to outside things through the senses. Swami Satchidananda gives us an analogy of this with a scenario of us sitting quietly and then we smell something nice from the kitchen. The sense part (manas) records that we are smelling something from somewhere. The buddhi discriminates, breaking down that the smell is maybe a cheese aroma, and then wonders what kind of cheese. Once the buddhi decides the kind of cheese, the ahamkara, the ego or "I" decides it should have some cheese now. These three things happen one at a time, but so quickly that we seldom distinguish between them. These modifications give rise to the effort to get the cheese. The want was created and, unless we fulfill the desire to see and eat the cheese, our mind won't go back to its peaceful condition or state.
All the difference in the outside world are the outcome of your mental modifications... The entire outside world is based on your thoughts and mental attitiude. The entire world is your own projection. Your values change within a fraction of a second... That is why Yoga does not bother much about changing the outside world. There is a Sanskrit saying, "Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoho." "As the mind, so the man; bondage or liberation are in your own mind." An example is given of prisoners and guards. They are both within the same walls, however, the difference is the mental attitude. The guards come to work, and the prisoners would like to get out.
So, if you can control the thought forms and change them when you want, you would not be bound by the outside world. We can make our world heaven or hell depending on how we look at it. That is why the entire Yoga is based on chitta vritti nirodhah. If you control your mind, you have controlled everything. Then there is nothing in this world to bind you.
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