Living Home Discover Goals

The 5 States of Mind

Article | 5 mins | Meditation & Mindfulness, Yoga

You may also like

To reach the state of absolute
ARTICLE
calmness and balance, we must first 10 Ways to Be
understand the different states of Mindful at
Work
mind.
ARTICLE
4 Ways to
Text by Shani Dayal favorite_outline share Build A
Resilient
Mind

ARTICLE
Concentration
for a Mind at
Peace

More on Cultivating
Insight & Wisdom chevron_right
4-SESSION COURSE
4 Steps to
Maharishi Patanjali, the author of the famous Tame Anger
yogic text The Yoga Sutra, describes the purpose
2-MINS MINI
of yoga in just 3 words: the cessation (nirodha) of MEDITATION

the fluctuations (vrittis) of the mind (chitta). Affirmations

for Positive
Chitta (mind stuff) is constantly undergoing
Thinking
changes. These fluctuations create thoughts and
emotions leading to actions.
Live your life healthy, happy, whole. More on Easing
GET APP
Stress and Anxiety chevron_right
 ARTICLE
The goal of yoga is to reach a state of Samadhi
My COVID
where the mind is calm and undisturbed even in Story:
the most difficult circumstances. But according Finding
to The Yoga Sutra, to reach this state of absolute Gratitude
calmness and balance, we must first understand 17-MINS CLASS
the different states of mind. Ease the
Stress of
Sadness
The 5 States of Mind, According to The
Yoga Sutras
More on Reaching
1. Kshipta — the Monkey Mind Your Potential chevron_right

ARTICLE
In this lowest state of mind, a person will be
Becoming a
restless and anxious. Kshipta is the monkey Meditation
mind, constantly jumping up and down. When in Coach
this mind state, a person alternates between
ARTICLE
extreme states of love and hate, like and dislike, 5 Ways to
pleasure and pain, enthusiasm and boredom. Live Beyond
Managing simple activities becomes challenging Fear
because there is no clear focus. It is the most
common state of the mind while awake,
especially now in modern, stressful, fast-paced
times.

Symptoms of the kshipta state of mind include

difficulty making decisions, restlessness, anxiety,
confusion, and lack of clarity.

The good news is that through yoga practice, we

can develop an understanding that thoughts
come and go. By managing and prioritizing your
attention only toward healthy, important, and
constructive thoughts and letting go of the
undesired ones, you can give clear directions to
Live your life healthy, happy, whole. GET APP
your mind to stop wandering and focus only on
what is required at the moment.

2. Mudha – The Donkey Mind

This is the state when the mind is dull, lazy and

sluggish. It is called the donkey state of mind
because there is a lack of concentration,
alertness, and energy needed to deal with
different life situations. Because of this lack of
drive, a person in this mind state will often give
up and feel hopeless when situations are
challenging, leading to failures and feelings of
dissatisfaction.

Symptoms of the mudha state of mind include

lack of energy and vitality, poor concentration,
depression, sadness, and lack of connection with
the self.

If you find yourself in this state of mind, begin to

reconnect with yourself through yoga and
meditation. Get quiet and listen to your inner
self so you can begin to move through changing
life situations with ease and comfort.

3. Vikshipta – The Butterfly Mind

In this state, the mind alternates between

moments of clarity and distraction. When you’re
in this state of mind, you are not fully in control
of your thoughts. Sometimes the mind might feel
balanced and joyful, but in difficult times it can
get pulled back to states of agitation or sadness.
Live your life healthy, happy, whole. GET APP
Symptoms of the vikshipta state of mind include
calmness that is easily distracted. In this mind
state you experience better concentration than
that of the mudha and kshipta states, but you
still need practice focusing.

Practice yoga with full awareness to keep your

mind calm and focused. With practice, this calm
state of mind will become stronger. Meditation
will also foster calmness and help you hold it for
longer durations of time, bringing your focus to
peace whenever distractions and difficulties
arise.

4. Ekagra — One-Pointed Attention

This state of mind is relaxed and focused. In one-

pointed mind, one can completely focus, without
getting affected by any external agencies.

Symptoms of the ekagra state include better

focus, awareness, and clarity — a prerequisite to
meditation, awakening intuition, and feeling
happy and whole.

This is the state of mind that signifies yoga:

union with the highest consciousness. When
you’re in this state, you’ve found a single-pointed
focus in life that will be unaffected by external
factors. Your intuitiveness is awoken, and you
sense things beyond the five senses. Consistent
yoga practice can help maintain this state.

5. Niruddha — Fully Focused Mind

Live your life healthy, happy, whole. GET APP
In this state, the mind is not distracted by
random thoughts but is fully absorbed. After
surpassing the state of ekagra, you will be able to
hold on to a single point of focus. This can occur
during meditation or when you are fully
engaged in something. In this state of mind,
nothing can distract from the point of focus and
complete stillness. When the Yogi sustains the
state of niruddha for long periods, the mind
reaches a state of complete liberation (samadhi).

Symptoms of niruddha include complete focus,

stability, and calmness.

The niruddha state of mind is the ultimate goal

of yoga. Through the practice, continue to
internalize and begin to reconnect with the
eternal peace that lies within.

01:30

Try this course, Yoga for Balancing Emotions, by

Shani Dayal, a Roundglass meditation teacher, to
experience how moving your body can support
you in processing and releasing negative emotions
Live your life healthy, happy, whole. GET APP
that can impact the quality of your waking life.
About the author

Shani Dayal
Shani Dayal is passionate about
teaching others the importance of
mobility, body conditioning and
joint health in her yoga practice.…
play_arrow Play View Profilechevron_right

Did you like this article? thumb_up_alt thumb_down_alt

Living Our Impact About Download

Meditation & Mindfulness Roundglass Sustain Wholistic Wellbeing
Yoga & Movement Roundglass Sports Our Story
Healthy Eating Roundglass Foundation Living With Sunny
Music & Sleep Stories Careers
Grieving & Death FAQ
Contact Us / Feedback
Workplace

© 2023 Roundglass. All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms of Use

Live your life healthy, happy, whole. GET APP