Lesson 5

Along with mastering focus, sharpening discernment is a primary goal of yoga. The system is designed to help you connect with a higher level of the mind and see more clearly. In yoga philosophy, the brain is not the same as the mind. The brain is an organ, and filters the mind. This may seem like a contradiction in western culture, however the nervous system reaches every part of the body. Have you heard that the gut is our second brain? What about the heart? There is intelligence throughout the entire body, and even beyond.

Let’s briefly look at what yoga has to say about the mind. According to yoga philosophy, there are four main parts of the mind — ahamkara, manas, chitta, and buddhi. It is helpful to think of the mind as a company, with several different parts working together (hopefully). However, often there is war in the mind, and this is no way to live.

Ahamkara is our sense of identity. In yoga, it is called our “I-ness” or ego. This is an important subtlety. Many yoga words — like ego, karma, and meditation — have completely lost their original meaning in modern-day culture. For example, when you hear the word “ego” nowadays, it is typically always describing someone who is narcissistic. In yoga, your ego is your sense of identity and individually — making you uniquely you. It is not a bad thing, but an essential aspect of the mind. If you had no identity, you would not be able to function in reality.

Moving on, manas is what most people refer to as the everyday conscious mind. It is the problem-solving aspect of the mind, as well as the supervisor or coordinator of the senses. It is not bad, but according to yoga it should not be in the driver’s seat — controlling the entire mind, as it often does. 

Next, chitta is the storehouse of impressions, memories, emotions, and past experiences. It is important to understand that yoga teaches that your thoughts are not your true identity. Oftentimes in life, we pick up the thoughts of other people, then carry them with us — eventually identifying with them as our own, or even who we are. 

In yoga philosophy, the higher mind is known as buddhi. Think of it as the completely unbiased and wise witness of reality. This is the part of the mind we want in the driver’s seat making decisions — not the lower parts of the mind.

Throughout the day, try to recognize which part of your mind is in the driver’s seat. If you find that manas or chitta is in control, metaphorically pull over and have buddhi get behind the wheel.