Skip to content
Wellsprings
hindu-mindfeatured in 3 works

Movements of the Mind (Citta-Vṛtti)

Yoga, in one line: the stilling of the mind's restless movements.

Citta-vṛtti means the constant 'movements' or modifications of the mind — the unending stream of thoughts, impressions, and reactions. Patañjali's celebrated definition of yoga is precisely 'the stilling of the movements of the mind': when the mental waves settle, the pure self shines forth in its own nature rather than being colored by the agitation. Mapping and calming these movements is the practical heart of Yoga psychology.

How it traveled

  1. Bhagavad-gītā
    Kuru-Pañcāla region · -150
    explains
  2. Yoga-sūtra
    Kāśī (Varanasi) · 375
    explains
  3. Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā
    Kāśī (Varanasi) · 1450
    explains

Key passages(20)

Aṣṭāvakra-gītā · Aṣṭāvakra

Very high

Yoga-sūtra · Patañjali

Very high

Yoga-sūtra · Patañjali

Very high

Vivekacūḍāmaṇi · Śaṅkara (traditionally ascribed; authorship doubted)

Very high

Bhagavad-gītā · Vyāsa (Yoga-bhāṣya commentator)

Very high

Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā · Svātmārāma

Very high

Bhagavad-gītā · Vyāsa (Yoga-bhāṣya commentator)

High

Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā · Svātmārāma

High

Upadeśasāhasrī · Ādi Śaṅkara

High

Śiva-sūtra · Vasugupta

High

Upadeśasāhasrī · Ādi Śaṅkara

High

Vijñāna-bhairava · Anonymous (Bhairava Āgama / Tantra)

High

Chāndogya Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

High

Gheraṇḍa-saṃhitā · (attributed to Gheraṇḍa)

High

Vijñāna-bhairava · Anonymous (Bhairava Āgama / Tantra)

High

Brahma-sūtra · Bādarāyaṇa

High

Kaṭha Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

High

Tantrasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Tantrasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Spanda-kārikā · Bhaṭṭa Kallaṭa

High