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IKO-102 Consciousness Studies in Samkhya and Yoga Sutras The Human Condition Chitta Vikshepa Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 1  Chitta Vikshepa Devotion and Renunciation are powers of the True Self, beyond N...

IKO-102 Consciousness Studies in Samkhya and Yoga Sutras The Human Condition Chitta Vikshepa Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 1  Chitta Vikshepa Devotion and Renunciation are powers of the True Self, beyond Nature. We are unable to express these powers because the Causal (Spiritual) Body or Chitta is in a state of Vikshepa (distraction). Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 2  Chitta Vikshepa Devotion and Renunciation are powers of the True Self, beyond Nature. We are unable to express these powers because the Causal (Spiritual) Body or Chitta is in a state of Vikshepa (distraction). These powers or devotion and renunciation express in the form of opposites or dualities in our experience, such as liking and disliking, action and inaction, etc. Within Nature (experiential reality) these powers take dualistic form, although beyond Nature (as the power of the Self) they are same (serving same purpose) though apparently they may seem opposite to one another. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 3  Chitta Vikshepa Devotion and Renunciation are powers of the True Self, beyond Nature. We are unable to express these powers because the Causal (Spiritual) Body or Chitta is in a state of Vikshepa (distraction). When the Chitta is in the opposite state (steadiness or calmness), then the powers of the True Self are easily and naturally expressed, and one can move towards Self Realization. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 4  Chitta Vikshepa Devotion and Renunciation are powers of the True Self, beyond Nature. We are unable to express these powers because the Causal (Spiritual) Body or Chitta is in a state of Vikshepa (distraction). When the Chitta is in the opposite state (steadiness or calmness), then the powers of the True Self are easily and naturally expressed, and one can move towards Self Realization. Thoughts and Feelings are continuously arising from the Chitta or Causal Body due to the effect of the functioning of all three bodies in their ill-conditioned (degraded or Tamasic) state. These keep the Chitta in a disturbed state, preventing expression of True Self and Self Realization. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 5  Chitta Vikshepa Chitta Vikshepa is brought about by nine obstacles (Antaraya), as per Patanjali. Antaraya Remarks Vyadhi Disease. State of not at ease (natural relaxation). Styana Languor. Incapacity to take up activity. Samshaya Indecision. Dwelling on multiple possibilities. Pramada Carelessness. State of not doing things as they are supposed to be done. Alasya Sloth. Inertia preventing activity. Avirati Constant Attachment. Objects taking possession of the mind. Bhranti-Darshana Mistaken notion. State of false knowledge. Alabdha-Bhumikatva Missing the point. Not being able to perceive something. Anavasthitatva Instability. Inability to maintain a state that is attained. PYS 1.30 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 6  Chitta Vikshepa Chitta Vikshepa is accompanied by five companions (Sahabhuva), as per Patanjali. Sahabhuva Remarks Duhkha Suffering. State due to outcome contrary to expectations. Dauramanasya Despair. State due to non-fulfilment of some desire. Angamejayatva Shakiness. State due to anxiety and nervousness. Shvasa Inspiration. Intake of external air. Prashvasa Expiration. Throwing out internal gas. PYS 1.31 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 7  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 1. Ekatattva Abhyasa – Habituation to one Truth. Practice of one subject for a sufficient time removes distraction. This must be done regularly and with due diligence. It strengthens the ability of the mind to remain undistracted in other subjects as well. PYS 1.32 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 8  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 1. Ekatattva Abhyasa – Habituation to one Truth. Practice of one subject for a sufficient time removes distraction. This must be done regularly and with due diligence. It strengthens the ability of the mind to remain undistracted in other subjects as well. A subject could be kept in attention while conducting other worldly duties. Like a student revising concepts in mind while eating, bathing or roaming around. The one subject that could become a constant practice throughout life is meditation on God or the Highest Power as perceived by one. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 9  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 2. Chitta Prasadanam – Pacification of Chitta Friendliness towards happiness. Supporting and celebrating others’ happiness and success. Not having any negative emotion such as jealousy, anger, anxiety, comparison, etc. PYS 1.33 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 10  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 2. Chitta Prasadanam – Pacification of Chitta Friendliness towards happiness. Supporting and celebrating others’ happiness and success. Not having any negative emotion such as jealousy, anger, anxiety, comparison, etc. Need to be friendly towards happiness of self also, by cultivating the attitude of being happy whatever be the situation. With the belief that whatever happens is for the best and with a greater plan, one can situate oneself in happiness. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 11  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 2. Chitta Prasadanam – Pacification of Chitta Compassion towards suffering. Being compassionate and sympathetic to others’ pain and suffering. Being merciful, forgiving, gracious, kind and helpful towards others. PYS 1.33 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 12  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 2. Chitta Prasadanam – Pacification of Chitta Compassion towards suffering. Being compassionate and sympathetic to others’ pain and suffering. Being merciful, forgiving, gracious, kind and helpful towards others. The worldly life is full of suffering. We need to see everyone equally in this aspect, and develop in our hearts equal compassion and love for all, be they involved in acts of goodness or cruelty. In fact, the latter needs more compassion since they are moving farther away from goodness. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 13  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 2. Chitta Prasadanam – Pacification of Chitta Complacency towards virtue. We need to support and admire a virtuous act. Virtue is something that brings one closer to Realization of True Self. PYS 1.33 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 14  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 2. Chitta Prasadanam – Pacification of Chitta Complacency towards virtue. We need to support and admire a virtuous act. Virtue is something that brings one closer to Realization of True Self. In worldly aspects, this counts to discovering one’s inherent skills, studying to enhance knowledge, being true to and expressing one’s positive feelings and emotions, making an effort to restrict one’s negative feelings and emotions, making company of learned people, visiting places of beauty and worship, practicing or entertaining in classical art forms, etc. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 15  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 2. Chitta Prasadanam – Pacification of Chitta Indifference towards vice. Vice is something that takes one away from Realization of True Self. Any action with intent of wrongdoing or malice generates negative emotions in the heart. Acts that dull the faculties and degrade the bodies are also considered vice. One needs to be indifferent to vice and not engage with it. PYS 1.33 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 16  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 2. Chitta Prasadanam – Pacification of Chitta Indifference towards vice. Vice is something that takes one away from Realization of True Self. Any action with intent of wrongdoing or malice generates negative emotions in the heart. Acts that dull the faculties and degrade the bodies are also considered vice. One needs to be indifferent to vice and not engage with it. We must also not react when we perceive an act of vice, especially when it is directed towards us. Our reaction causes negative emotions in our hearts as well, and we fail to maintain steadiness of Chitta, moving us farther from Self Realization. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 17  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 2. Chitta Prasadanam – Pacification of Chitta Friendliness towards happiness. Most of the problems and difficulties in our life happen Compassion towards suffering. because we are unable to maintain these positions and Complacency towards virtue. attitude. Practising these attitudes Indifference towards vice. causes the Chitta to remain steady. PYS 1.33 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 18  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 3. Working with Prana Expulsion is forceful throwing out of air from the lungs. Normal breathing out keeps much of the internal gas inside only, which has its negative effect in our general wellbeing. PYS 1.34 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 19  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 3. Working with Prana Expulsion is forceful throwing out of air from the lungs. Normal breathing out keeps much of the internal gas inside only, which has its negative effect in our general wellbeing. We can experience ourselves that while breathing out, we get a certain disengagement with the senses and while breathing in, we get corresponding engagement. This is the disengagement and engagement of the life force or Prana with the organs. Thereby, we must practice longer breathing out and shorter breathing in. However, usually we do the exact opposite. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 20  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 3. Working with Prana Retention is the ability to hold the breath. It can be held after inhalation or after exhalation. PYS 1.34 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 21  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 3. Working with Prana Retention is the ability to hold the breath. It can be held after inhalation or after exhalation. Retention after exhalation is to be practiced to create the soul impression of disengagement with the organs, as well as the fact that breathing is not essential for continuity of life. This is because the life force or Prana is not same as breath. Retention after exhalation takes time to practice, hence could be preceded by the practice of retention after inhalation. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 22  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 3. Working with Prana Breathing Period Action Purak Breathing In Antar Kumbhak Retention after breathing in Rechak Breathing Out Bahir Kumbhak Retention after breathing out Every breathing cycle must ideally contain all these periods. Abdominal Breathing makes it possible to include all these periods in a cycle of breath. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 23  Abdominal Breathing Diaphragmatic Breathing: Expansion and contraction of diaphragm only as we breathe in and out respectively. Abdominal muscles will move out and move in with inhalation and exhalation respectively. No movement in the chest or shoulder muscles. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 24  Abdominal Breathing Practice of Regular Diaphragmatic Breathing: For 5-10 minutes, sit straight or lie down with one palm on chest and another on abdomen, and notice the movement of the respective muscles during breathing process and try to correct with conscious effort. Be attentive of your breathing as often as possible throughout the day and correct it by taking a small pause from other activities. Breathing can be easily regulated in this way within two weeks time. Thereafter, periodic checking throughout the day must be done to ensure that breathing is not happening by chest or shoulder movements, and it is happening through abdominal movement only. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 25  Abdominal Breathing Effects of Regular Diaphragmatic Breathing: With increased practice, regular breathing will become slow and deep, giving a calming effect to the entire body and release of stress and tension. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 26  Abdominal Breathing Effects of Regular Diaphragmatic Breathing: With increased practice, regular breathing will become slow and deep, giving a calming effect to the entire body and release of stress and tension. Further, one will be able to undertake paused breathing, wherein breathing can be paused voluntarily for a certain duration of time while continuing with normal activities. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 27  Abdominal Breathing Effects of Regular Diaphragmatic Breathing: With increased practice, regular breathing will become slow and deep, giving a calming effect to the entire body and release of stress and tension. Further, one will be able to undertake paused breathing, wherein breathing can be paused voluntarily for a certain duration of time while continuing with normal activities. With time, these pauses will also become involuntary. Then breath will be taken only when required by the body. In other words, body’s requirement for breath in normal activities will reduce drastically. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 28  Abdominal Breathing Effects of Regular Diaphragmatic Breathing: Eventually, this will calm down our mind and free it from the influence of various ideas and judgments. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 29  Abdominal Breathing Effects of Regular Diaphragmatic Breathing: Eventually, this will calm down our mind and free it from the influence of various ideas and judgments. It will also calm down our reactions to life and make us experience our deepest feelings and sensations. This will lead us to the true experience of our present self and move us in the path of self-improvement. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 30  Abdominal Breathing Effects of Regular Diaphragmatic Breathing: Eventually, this will calm down our mind and free it from the influence of various ideas and judgments. It will also calm down our reactions to life and make us experience our deepest feelings and sensations. This will lead us to the true experience of our present self and move us in the path of self-improvement. It will improve our ability to concentrate and perceive the true nature of all things as they are, delivering true knowledge and wisdom. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 31  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 4. Meditating on subtle sensations One could make an effort to achieve the ability to experience subtler and higher sense perceptions. This can be done through meditation on the following parts. Olfactory organ – Higher smell perception Tip of the tongue – Higher taste perception Palate – Higher colour perception Middle of the tongue – Higher touch perception Root of the tongue – Higher sound perception PYS 1.35 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 32  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 4. Meditating on subtle sensations One could make an effort to achieve the ability to experience subtler and higher sense perceptions. This can be done through meditation on the following parts. Olfactory organ – Higher smell perception Achieving even one of these Tip of the tongue – Higher taste perception higher sensations destroys Palate – Higher colour perception doubt and gives steadiness to Middle of the tongue – Higher touch perception the Chitta for pursuance of Self Root of the tongue – Higher sound perception Realization. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 33  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 5. Meditating on luminous forms Meditation can be brought to luminous forms which are internal to the meditator. PYS 1.36 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 34  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 5. Meditating on luminous forms Meditation can be brought to luminous forms which are internal to the meditator. As meditation is prolonged, these forms can take larger sizes and remain stable. The entire body form could also be meditated as a luminous effulgent one, free from all pain and suffering. Such meditations create positive impressions in the soul about perception of realities beyond matter and makes the Chitta steady towards Self Realization. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 35  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 6. Meditating on desirelessness Meditation can be done on the state of desirelessness. PYS 1.37 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 36  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 6. Meditating on desirelessness Meditation can be done on the state of desirelessness. In this an object may be thought of for which there is no desire, and then the state of desirelessness can be appreciated by the meditator. Being steady in this meditation, the character of desirelessness creates soul impressions from which desire for other objects is pacified and lessened. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 37  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 7. Meditating on dream and sleep One can make effort to become aware while in sleep and dream. If this ability arises in a person, then they become more aware. PYS 1.38 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 38  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 7. Meditating on dream and sleep One can make effort to become aware while in sleep and dream. If this ability arises in a person, then they become more aware. They can even take control of how their dreams shape up, and also experience beauty and higher sensations in their dreams. This is known as lucid dreaming. This starts to create soul impression of being the master, and increases awareness in worldly affairs. Attraction towards worldly objects and sensations diminishes due to obtaining higher sensations in the lucid dream state. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 39  Preventing Chitta Vikshepa Patanjali suggested eight ways whose practice will prevent Chitta Vikshepa. 8. Meditating on anything of one’s own choice The point is to meditate. One must cultivate the practice of meditation, which is to be in perception of something steadily for a sufficient duration. This increases steadiness of the Chitta by creating the experiences and soul impressions of steadiness during meditation. The object of meditation can be anything the meditator likes. It needs only be something recognized as good and of beauty and positivity to the meditator, such as melodious music, landscape scenery, fond memories, etc. PYS 1.39 Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 40 A Model of the Chitta Modifications Perceiving Reality as what is not. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 41 A Model of the Chitta SELF Power to restrain Modifications Perceiving Reality as what is not. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 42 A Model of the Chitta SELF Power to restrain Modifications Perceiving Reality as what is not. Distractions preventing restraint Vikshepa of the modifications. Causal Body Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 43  A Model of the Chitta SELF Power to restrain Gross Body Modifications Perceiving Reality as what is not. Distractions preventing restraint Vikshepa of the modifications. Causal Body Astral Body Antaraya and Sahabhuva Prevention of Vikshepa – working on conditioning the three bodies Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 44  A Model of the Chitta SELF Power to restrain Gross Body Modifications Perceiving Reality as what is not. Distractions preventing restraint Vikshepa of the modifications. Causal Body Astral Body Need an understanding of Antaraya and Sahabhuva the objects of interaction for these bodies at the level of Prevention of Vikshepa – working on conditioning the three bodies principles. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 45  A Model of the Chitta SELF Power to restrain Gross Body Modifications Perceiving Reality as what is not. Distractions preventing restraint Vikshepa of the modifications. Causal Body Astral Body Antaraya and Sahabhuva Need an understanding of the Existence as per 25 Prevention of Vikshepa – working on conditioning the three bodies principles of Sankhya. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 46  Self Work Did you know of Abdominal or Diaphragmatic Breathing? Do you practice it or know anyone who does? Observe the breathing of children and animals. What breathing are they practicing? Why would you think chest and shoulder breathing is less efficient to abdominal breathing and even detrimental? Use your scientific insights. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 47  Self Work What is your number of breaths per minute? If you could cut down on this count, do you think it will benefit you? How? Use your scientific insights. Why would you think chest and shoulder breathing is less efficient to abdominal breathing and even detrimental? Use your scientific insights. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 48  Ending Thought Do you think the techniques for prevention of Chitta Vikshepa could fail? Why so? What should then be the approach to bring steadiness to the Chitta? To be explored in farther lectures. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 49  Ending Thought Can you guess three broad categories in which the elements of Sankhya could be divided into? Could there be a fourth category? To be explored in farther lectures. Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 50 Thank you for your attention!! Dr. Sohom Chakrabarty, IIT Roorkee, 2024-25 Autumn 51