We think, imagine, remember, and analyze all day long—but how often do we pause and ask: how does the mind actually work? Before I began practicing yoga, I didn’t. I often followed my thoughts impulsively rather than tuning in to what my heart was telling me. Looking back, I see how that led to missteps, missed opportunities, and unnecessary suffering.Reading Patañjali’s Yoga Sutra was a turning point. I was struck by the simplicity and depth of one line in particular:
Yoga Sutra 1.2
Sanskrit:
Yogaś citta vṛtti nirodhaḥ
Translation:
The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga.
— Sri Swami Satchidananda
This short verse explains the true purpose of yoga. It’s not just about perfecting poses or breathing techniques—it’s about calming the mind.
In Sanskrit, the constant activity of the mind is called vṛttis. These include thoughts, emotions, memories, ideas, and perceptions. They’re all a natural part of being human. But when the mind is too busy or filled with these fluctuations, it can be hard to feel peaceful or see things clearly.It’s a bit like the sky.
The vṛttis are like passing clouds—sometimes light and scattered, other times stormy and overwhelming. But above all the weather, the clear blue sky is always there. Yoga helps us settle the clouds so we can reconnect with that vast, open awareness that’s never truly gone—just temporarily hidden.
So, where do all these thoughts come from in the first place?
The Four Components of the Mind
According to the yoga sutra, the mind isn’t just one thing. It functions through four key parts, each playing a unique role:
- Manas – The Sensory Mind
This part gathers information from your five senses. It’s like a scanner—reactive and always alert, sorting data from the outside world. - Buddhi – The Intellect
Buddhi helps you analyze, judge, and make decisions. It asks: Is this right or wrong? What should I do next? - Ahamkara – The Ego or “I-Maker”
Ahamkara creates your sense of identity. It says, This is who I am, and reacts to protect that image—sometimes helpfully, sometimes defensively. - Citta – Heart Mind or Consciousness
Citta is considered the totality of the mind—the seat of thoughts, emotions, and awareness where all mental activity arises and interacts. It isn’t confined to the head; it permeates the entire body, shaping how we perceive and respond to both our inner and outer world. Citta is continually influenced by the three gunas: sattva (clarity), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia).
When the other three mental functions—manas (sensory mind), buddhi (intellect), and ahamkara (ego)—arise and interact, citta reflects their activity through the lens of its dominant guna. In a sattvic state, citta perceives the world with clarity and calm. When rajas dominates, the mind becomes restless and overstimulated. Under tamas, perception turns dull, clouded, or heavy.
Imagine the dynamic between a music conductor and their orchestra. When the conductor is calm and clear (sattva), the musicians respond with soft, harmonious music. If the conductor is overly intense (rajas), the music becomes loud and agitated. If the conductor is sluggish or distracted (tamas), the music slows and loses vitality. In this way, the quality of the conductor—citta—influences the entire orchestra of manas, buddhi, and ahamkara, shaping your experience of the moment.Citta also stores memory and past impressions (samskaras) and acts as a bridge to your deeper inner knowing—the part of you that recognizes peace and truth when the mind becomes still.
Let’s say you’re in a work meeting.
- Manas kicks in first, gathering information. You hear your teammate mention a tight project deadline. You notice their tone, the tension in the room, and the clock ticking—all sensory input.
- Buddhi steps in next: We’re going to need more resources to meet that deadline.
- Then Ahamkara chimes in with self-referential thoughts: If I speak up, will they think I’m complaining? What if my suggestion falls flat?
- Amid all this, something deeper holds the space: Citta, like a wise conductor, allows these voices to arise, interact, and settle.
Later, in a quiet moment, you feel a sense of clarity and calm—a gentle knowing that this is just one project, and like all things, it will pass.
That moment of spacious awareness, when everything feels in perspective, is citta in balance—clear, sattvic, and attuned.
Why It Matters
The mind is always in motion, constantly thinking, analyzing, remembering, and imagining. If we’re not aware of how the mind operates, we may become trapped in automatic reactions—habits that can shape how we view ourselves, relate to others, and navigate the world. The first step toward greater freedom is understanding how the mind works. Once we recognize its patterns, we can begin to notice how those patterns influence our words, actions, and choices—sometimes in ways that don’t serve us well. With awareness, we gain the ability to pause, reflect, and respond more skillfully rather than simply react.
Imagine someone cuts you off in traffic. Without thinking, you might yell or feel angry the rest of the day. But if you learn how your mind works and how to pause, you might notice the anger rising—and choose to take a breath instead of reacting right away.
As Sri Swami Satchidananda beautifully said, “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” Yoga helps us do just that—it teaches us how to ride the waves of the mind with steadiness, clarity, and grace.
Key Takeaways
- The Mind Is Constantly Active
We spend our days thinking, remembering, imagining, and analyzing—but rarely pause to ask how the mind actually works. - Yoga Offers a Path to Mental Clarity
According to Yoga Sutra 1.2, the true goal of yoga is not just physical postures or breathing techniques—it’s calming the fluctuations (vṛttis) of the mind. - The Mind Has Four Parts
Understanding the four components—Manas (sensory mind), Buddhi (intellect), Ahamkara (ego), and Citta (mental field or inner awareness)—helps us see how thoughts and reactions arise. - Awareness Leads to Freedom
By observing how the mind functions, we gain the power to respond wisely instead of reacting impulsively. This awareness can transform everyday moments, like stressful meetings or traffic jams. - You Can’t Stop the Waves, But You Can Learn to Surf
With yoga and mindfulness, we learn to navigate the ups and downs of life with greater steadiness, self-awareness, and grace.
Where is your mind at today? Wherever it is, know that with steady practice, insight will come. Just keep showing up.
All is coming.
Reference
- Bryant, Edwin F. The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation, and Commentary. Edited by Edwin F. Bryant, translated by Edwin F. Bryant, North Point Press, 2009.
- Satchidananda, Swami, editor. The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Translated by Swami Satchidananda, Integral Yoga Publications, 2012.