In the yogic tradition, the mind is regarded as the primary battleground for attaining genuine spiritual freedom. As explained in earlier articles, thoughts arise due to inputs from the five senses — sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Each sensory input can give rise to thoughts that are either pleasurable or painful, resulting in ten primary categories of thoughts.
The Patanjali Framework: Understanding Thought Patterns
According to Patanjali, each thought arises in one of the following five forms:
Pramana (proof) – Based on direct perception and reality
Viparyaya (wrong perception) – Based on misunderstanding or illusion
Vikalpa (imagination) – Constructed by the mind without a real basis
Nidra (sleep) – Related to mental inactivity or unconsciousness
Smriti (memory) – Based on stored impressions or past experiences
Patanjali emphasized that only thoughts based on pramana (proof) should be trusted. These include what we directly perceive with our senses and what we come to realize through deep meditative concentration, known as samadhi, which reveals the true self or soul (atman).
The Misconception of Dualism
Beliefs in external deities, heaven, or a God separate from the soul are described as opposite (viparyaya) thoughts. According to Patanjali, such beliefs arise due to ignorance of the true self and reliance on traditions or teachings that encourage duality — seeing the soul as separate from the divine. These ideas persist as alternative thoughts, supported by inherited cultural memories and conditioning.
How to Control Thoughts: Abhyasa and Vairagya
Patanjali proposes two essential tools for mastering the mind:
1. Practice (Abhyasa)
Defined in Sutra I.13, practice means to remain steadfast and focused on the true self. It is about staying centered — not just doing exercises, but aligning thought and intention with the goal of spiritual clarity.
This is not a short-term pursuit. As per Sutra I.14, it must be:
Consistent
Long-term
Sincere
Done with faith and confidence
Regular practice purifies both body and mind, making the mind lighter, sharper, and free from fear, ignorance, and bondage.
Note: Many commercialized yoga practices today offer only partial benefits focused on physical exercise or breathwork, missing the deeper essence of Patanjali’s Yoga, which is spiritual self-realization.
2. Detachment (Vairagya)
Sutra I.15 teaches that detachment is the ability to remain dispassionate toward things seen or heard. This means not getting emotionally entangled with either material pleasures or cultural beliefs about heaven, deities, or supernatural realms.
Detachment is not withdrawal from society, but rather the mental mastery to remain unaffected while living within it.
This is not about forceful control, but non-attraction — the ability to recognize the impermanence of worldly things and resist craving.
Realizing the True Self
True yogic practice aims to:
Purify the mind and body
Sharpen perception and intellect
Uncover the true self beneath layers of belief, conditioning, and sensory distraction
Only by mastering both practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya) can a seeker begin the journey toward spiritual liberation and mental clarity.
About the Author
Premansu Chand is a dedicated practitioner and teacher of Patanjali Yoga in its purest form. His writings offer insights into authentic yogic philosophy and its spiritual goals. Learn more in his book, “The Purest Interpretation of Spiritualism and Yoga,” or visit www.premansuchanda.com.
