One Term at a Time · 18
Chitta
चित्त
Mental process.
The mind-stuff, where impressions are stored.
Definition: Swami Jyotirmayananda, Integral Yoga glossary
Swamiji on Chitta
Our summary of the lecture passage in the film below. These are our words, not Swamiji's.
Chitta is the mind-stuff, the part of the mind where impressions are stored. In this Yoga Vasistha passage Swamiji gives it an image rather than a definition. The heart holds a sky of pure consciousness, full of light. Chitta is a dark cloud that gathers in that sky and blocks the light. What moves the cloud is the wind of vasanas, the subtle desires. The wind pushes the cloud from place to place, breaks it apart and joins it again, and in the same way the mind is led in different directions. Out of these clouds come flashes of lightning: sudden insights, sudden new desires, new ideas of what your life should be. Every expectation that promises to make you happy is one of these flashes. His warning is plain. Chase the lightning and you meet the crash as well, because what this cloud finally pours down is a heavy rain of adversity. The steady light is the sky itself, the pure consciousness the cloud hides.
Citta can be compared to a dark cloud.
One Term at a Time
One Sanskrit term at a time: a short definition, then Swamiji using the word in a lecture.
Start at the beginning: Vāsanā
- 01Vāsanāthe trace a desire leaves behind
- 02Vairāgyathe loosening of a grip
- 03Satsaṅgathe company you keep
- 04Vivekatelling the real from what only looks real
- 05Brahmanthe one reality behind every object
- 06Māyāwhy the world seems so real
- 07Jnanathe wisdom that sees through it
- 08Sadhanathe practice that carries you there
- 09Vicharaasking who you really are
- 10Ragathe pull toward what pleases you
- 11Dveshathe push away from what displeases you
- 12Samskarathe impression each like and dislike leaves on the mind
- 13Karmaaction and the result produced by action
- 14Gunathe three fundamental modes or qualities of nature
- 15Pranalife force; vital energy
- 16Samadhideep absorption in truth
- 17Jivaindividual self
- 18Chittamental process
- 19Japarepetition of mantra
- 20Dhyanameditation
- 21Muktiliberation
- 22Dharanaconcentration
- 23Atmasoul
- 24Bhavanafeeling
- 25Jnanithe wise one
- 26Sthita-prajnaone established in wisdom
- 27Aham brahmasmiI am Brahman
- 28Pranayamabreathing exercises
- 29Bhaktidevotion
- 30Sattwaa harmonious, focused state
- 31Rajasa restless, distracted state
- 32Tamasinertia
- 33Shravanalistening
- 34Mananareflection
- 35NididhyasanaVedantic meditation
- 36Tapasausterity
- 37Pratyaharawithdrawal of the senses
- 38Swadhyayastudy of scriptures
- 39Ishvara Pranidhanasurrender to God
- 40Shauchapurity
- 41Santoshacontentment
- 42Ahimsanon-violence
- 43Satyatruthfulness
- 44Asteyanon-stealing
- 45Brahmacharyacelibacy
What is The Four Paths?
Swami Jyotirmayananda's teaching on the four paths of yoga, in his own words, one short lesson at a time.
What it does for you
Swamiji teaches that the personality has four sides: action, emotion, will and reason. Each path cultivates one of them, and the course covers all four, so none is left out.
- Karma Yogaaction
unfolds one’s hidden potentialities
- Bhakti Yogaemotion
cultures the feelings and brings about emotional integration in the personality
- Raja Yogawill
allows one to develop a strong will and a controlled mind
- Jnana Yogareason
trains and renders the reason sharp and subtle
In order to succeed, all these four must be cultivated in a balanced and integrated manner.
Swami Jyotirmayananda, The Four Paths, Lesson 3
It is free and comes by email: a lesson every other day, 19 core lessons on action, devotion, meditation and wisdom, then 10 lessons called Going Deeper.
Every lesson is Swamiji's own text, so you learn the four paths from him, not from a summary.
Prefer to look first? Read Lesson 1 of The Four Paths.