Vritis: What they are

 

When a current emanating from the spirit strikes any object, such as a physical thing, a mental feeling, an idea, or a sensory sensation, and returns to its source, it is called a vriti. The vriti produces a modulation in the mind- stuff. All our knowledge of the world without and within comes from or originating from an object, Passes through the eyes to the brain , where it is converted into thought the eyes to the brain, where it is converted into thought impression making us aware of the object.

Vritis are five kinds:

(i)                   Parman: The relation ship between the pure soul and Prakriti or called parman. In every manifestation, the pure souls find its own essence at the core and nothing is apart and distinct from it.

(ii)                 Vipreh : The relationship between the knowing soul and Prakriti or  Nature’s object is called Vipreh. It takes in and accpts  the manifested form as it is , but remains skeptical of the one and accepts the manifested form as it is, but remains skeptical of the one and active life- principle at the core of it.

(iii)                Vikalp: It is the relationship that mind-ridden soul has with the objects, producing doubt and delusion as to the objects themselves, their existence, their intrinsic Nature and the life- essence at their core.

(iv)               Nidra: It is the relationship that the prana- covered soul has with the objects. It embraces in it's fold the twin state of dream and deep slumber, regardless of the existing surroundings.

(v)                 Smriti: it is the relationship of the embodied soul with the objects of the world on the physical plane.

  All these vritis constitute so many hurdles in the way of the soul seeking to understand it's true and essential Nature, which in reality is nothing but that of God. Kabir therefore says “ soul is the same essence as that of God.”

 

 Similarly , the Muslim divines express the same ides when they speak of the soul as Amar-I-Rabbi or the fiat of God.

 

If one could but clear the chit of the vritis ( chit vriti nirodha , as it is called), nothing would be lefe except the pure essence of Godhead. Hence we have the oft- repeated famous dicta on yoga, as in the following:

 

Chit virit nirodha (clearing the mind of the mental oscillations ) is the essence of yoga.

 

PATANJALI

At one ment of the soul and the over soul is yoga.

 

YAJANAVLKYA

Extrication of the soul from the materials of life by disrobing if of the enshrouding sheaths, is yoga.

 

MACHHANDRA NATH AND GORAKH NATH

The easiest, the most ancient, and the most natural way to gain the fruit of yoga, as taught by kabir, nanak and others before and after them, is that of Shabd yoga, or sehaj yoga, as given by all the Master Saint from the time immemorial. When the spirit is able, by practice of the spiritual sadhana, a pure spirit, complete in itself, a conscious entity, self existence and self luminous , ever the same and eternally free. According to the Saints, yoga is communion of the soul with the holy word (God into expression), the Power of God or the spirit of God: sruti, sraosha, kalma, Naam or the holy spirit as variously designated by the various sages each in his own particular time.

 

 



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