Vrittis

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

Vrittis
Therefore, in the ordinary mind, so many Vrittis are rising and sinking. When the Vrittis
arise in the mind, the individual starts a series of Kalpanas. You begin to build a Kalpana or
imagination. If the Kalpana is not there, the Vrittis do not trouble the man. When the Vrittis are
supported by creating imagination or Kalpana, it makes the Vritti take the form of a desire, Iccha,
and what is the nature of this desire, which is formed through the force of imagination or Kalpana?
It is of the same variety as the experience that formed the Samskara which again became the cause
for the rise of the Vritti. Even at this stage of desire, Iccha, there is not great harm. But when the play
of ego, the “I” in each one of us identifies itself with that desire, there starts all the trouble. Instead
of “Want” it takes the form of “I want.” Now the individual is in the grip of the mind. Whether you
reside in a cave or in a city, when “I” and Kalpana join together, you feel “I want to have a chit chat,
I want a cigarette.” When Iccha is identified with Ahankara, all troubles arise. You may be doing
meditation, but when you get Iccha for a particular object, then meditation becomes secondary. You
go about for fulfilling your desire. But then, the mind has got two aspects. When a desire comes, it
thinks, “Should I fulfil this desire? Or should I continue my meditation? Should I go and take Iddli
and waste time?” Now, then there is Vichara. If the proper direction, the Suddha Manas, gets the
upper hand, it says “NO” and it pushes off the desire and continues meditation. If on the other hand
the mind gives way to Asuddha Manas, the desire gets the upper hand. Then the Iccha becomes a
Trishna, a strong impelling urge, and due to this craving, what happens? The person immediately
strives to fulfil the desire and he falls from Yoga.