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The Vrittis: Vikalpa

As we continue our exploration of the more subtle aspects of Yoga philosophy, we are hopefully beginning to understand that there is far more to it than we have been led to believe.


To practise the doing of yoga is to bring peace and stability to the fluctuations of the mind so that one may experience the being of yoga for oneself.


Yoga begins with the mind and ends with the Self.


So, let us continue our examinations of the mind and its different aspects, so that we may uncover the facets of our mental landscape and understand how we perceive, interact and relate to the very fabric of existence itself.


Vikalpa:


The third of the Vrittis is called Vikalpa, which is the mind’s capacity for "imagination," "conceptualisation," or "fantasy."


Vikalpa refers to the mental activity of creating concepts, ideas, and images that may or may not correspond to reality; it involves the formation of mental constructs, hypothetical scenarios, and imaginative representations.


Vikalpa is closely related to a faculty of the mind known as "manas" in Yoga, which is responsible for imagination, conceptualisation, and ideation, but it is not the outcome of that faculty; the outcome of our imaginations and fantasies is Vikalpa.


Vikalpa can manifest in various ways, such as:


Imaginary Scenarios: The mind loves to create fictional or hypothetical scenarios, often based on our desires, fears, or past experiences, which are then projected upon the situation at hand. These scenarios usually have no basis in reality, but can influence one's thoughts, emotions, and actions so strongly that they appear to be the absolute truth of the matter.


Daydreaming: Vikalpa can also manifest as indulging in vivid mental fantasies or daydreaming, where one mentally escapes from the present moment and creates imaginative narratives or scenarios. Daydreaming is not seen as one of the strongest aspects of Vikalpa, as it is often a mental activity with no serious drive or impulse behind it - put simply, we tend to know when we are daydreaming and therefore we don’t take it seriously.


Conceptual Constructs: Vikalpa includes the mental process of conceptualisation, where abstract ideas, concepts, and categories are formed within the mind. This can be useful for communication and understanding, but it can also lead to confusion or attachment to fixed mental constructs - again, just because we can conceptualise something does not make it real.


Assumptions & Judgements: Vikalpa can contribute to the imposition of assumptions, beliefs, and judgments onto our experiences or perceptions, distorting one's understanding of reality. Our judgements, beliefs and assumptions never hold up under scrutiny, and so we can further see here how the entire Vritti of Vikalpa is essentially based upon logical fallacies, errors in reasoning, and deeply mistaken conceptualisations.


By examining the Vritti of Vikalpa, we can see that, fundamentally, it is the tendency of the mind to create false ideas or concepts that deviate from the truth.


This tendency refers back to a previously made point; that as human beings, we have an innate need and desire to compartmentalise our experience of life according to our inherent biases - and this includes the mind itself!


It has been said before that “no technique of the mind will ever free you from your mind”, so it is no surprise that we find ourselves repeatedly entangled in its complexities.


In yogic practice, the recognition and discernment of Vikalpa is very important - by observing the workings of our mind and cultivating mindfulness towards these fluctuations of our mind, we can become aware of our innate inclinations to indulge in fantasy, imagination, and conceptualisation. This enables us to develop a greater clarity and discernment, and a deeper understanding of reality beyond the realm of Vikalpa.


Matt ~ The Bearded Naked Yogi


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