What is Chitta?

 

Photo Credit: Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

What is Chitta?

Chitta is difficult to describe in English, it can be called attention, inner mind, mind-stuff and so on. ‘Patanjali’s Yoga’ says - yoga is restraining the mind-stuff (chitta) from taking various forms (vrittis). There are four aspects of consciousness – the mind, intellect, ego and chitta. The mind receives the information from the senses, the intellect analyses it and the ego evaluates it according to how it affects us, and finally through the chitta we judge it positively or negatively according to our learned likes and dislikes. The chitta or mind-stuff may be defined as the whole mental process – it is this feeling aspect of chitta that Swami Paramhansa Yogananda most emphasised – “Overcome your likes and dislikes”, he said.

Swamiji always tell us to focus our mind on the crown of our head, this directs the innate energy within us in the upward direction thus clearing the chakras as it passes through the meridians and reaches the crown. To keep your mind focussed on the crown you need to develop a control over the mind itself – if you quieten the mind sufficiently enough to observe your thoughts, you will be amazed by how much mental agitation is caused by ego concerns. In a very real sense, the purpose of yoga or meditation is to overcome the perception of the ‘I’-sense or ego.

If we can learn to live with detachment then a sense of self does not necessarily bind us to delusion. Everyone has to take care of their physical body – even saints! It is through the chitta that we judge the world based on our own likes and dislikes and because of this we remain chained to the material world. It is through this ‘feeling’ aspect of consciousness with its center in the heart, that we create an endless stream of desires and repulsions. In most cases we are not even aware of our likes and dislikes and it is they, more than anything else, that determines our level of happiness. These likes and dislikes determine whether the world pleases us or disappoints us. We need to focus on becoming completely detached and fully aware through the regular practice of meditation and mindfulness.

Once we understand the meaning of chitta, we will be able to focus on enhancing our soul consciousness to overcome the control of body consciousness and live daily in a state where the chitta is focused purely on the present moment. Getting the chitta to focus on the present moment requires practice and patience. Keep meditating, keep having patience, keep focusing and one fine day you will find that you are filled with inner peace, joy and bliss!