Mind

Question 0

Rajasic mind

Answer 0

• hyperactivity, encouraging, & changing
• promotes disease by aggravation
• both tamas & rajas cause non-clarity, ignorance, & egoism

Question 1

Sattvic mind

Answer 1

• pure, light, illuminating, knowledge giving
• allows for discrimination btw. good & bad
• health promoting

Question 2

Tamasic mind

Answer 2

• inertia, covering, inhibiting, slowing
• acquires disease through attaching nature
• both tamas & rajas cause non-clarity, ignorance, & egoism

Question 3

Complications of Rajas & Tamas

Answer 3

Primary:
Kama - desire
Krodha - anger
Lobha - greediness
Moha - addictions/delusion
Eershya - jealousy 
Mada - ego

• also known as Arishat Varga (sharp instrument group)

Secondary:
Shoka - grief
Udvega - excitement
Bhaya - fear
Mana - pride

Many of these mentioned in Yoga Sutras II.34

Question 4

Prajnyaparadha

Answer 4

• means “sin of consciousness”
• when rajas & tamas cause chitta vrittis, the person loses the ability to distinguish between good & bad
• attraction leads to loss of intelligence (Bhagavad Gita)

Question 5

Properties of Mind

Answer 5

1. Jnyana Bhava - perseverance of knowledge

(when mind connects to an object through sense organ, it leads to the perseverance of knowledge)

2. Jnyana Abhava - non-perseverance of knowledge
3. Anutva - sensible, minute, atomic, feeble
4. Ekatva - one entity, complete, whole

Question 6

Actions of the Mind

Pancha Manokarmas

Answer 6

The 5 actions of the mind

1. Chintya - thinking
2. Vicharya - analyzing
3. Uhya - imagining
4. Dhyeya - aiming
5. Sankalpa - fixing goals

Question 7

Indriya Nigraha

Answer 7

Abode of sensory perceptions & their control

Question 8

Mano Nigraha

Answer 8

Self-controlling of own actions

Question 9

Salient points about the Mind

Answer 9

• proof of the existence of the mind is linked with perception
• mind is invisible, imperceptible to senses, but controls & coordinates the function of the sense organs; it is the “superintendent” of the senses
• a strong mind changes the nature of disease; a serious disease can appear ordinary or minor if the mind is strong
• the mind is omniscient, omnipotent, & omnipresent
• mind links body & soul & carries impressions from one body to another
• Charaka says mind is “chetana”
  when in possession of sense organs & “achetana” when sleeping; “ceta” means “one that animates”
• mind resides in heart according to most Ayurvedic texts, but Charaka says it is spread over the whole body

Question 10

Function of the mind & dosha actions

Answer 10

• Discrimination
• Memory
• Dream
• Doubt
• Inference
• Intuition
• Verbal cognition
• Internal perception
• the mind’s function is controlled by Vata; it is the physiological machinery for the function
• Prana Vayu controls the sense organs, buddhi, and actions of the mind
• Sadhaka Pitta is responsible for all accomplishment
• Tarpaka Kapha is responsible for all nourishment
• Mind is Governor of Senses

Question 11

4 Vitiators of the Mind

Answer 11

1. Jealousy
2. Animosity/Aversion
3. Envy
4. Hate

• rajas (instability) & tamas (indolence) are the 2 primary vitiators

Question 12

4 methods for purifying the mind

Answer 12

1. Maitri - friendliness
2. Karuna - compassion
3. Mudita - delight
4. Upekshanam - equanimity

Question 13

Methods of Stabilizing the Mind

Answer 13

1. Pranayama
2. Vairagya/Upekshanam (detachment)
3. Dyana (meditation)
4. Ishvara pranidhana
5. Abyasa (practice)