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The Art of Personal Sādhana

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    vikṣepa

    Devanāgarī: विक्षेप Translation: distraction, inattention, confusion, perplexity; scattering, dispersion; moving about, to and fro Similar words:kṣipta, vikṣipta, vyutthita, vyutthāna, unmanas Opposite words:samāhita Related concepts:antarāya, citta

    Appears in

    Yoga Sūtra:

    Chapter 1: 30 , 31


    Click here for complete Saṃskṛta Index

    Commentaries around

    “The ideal Dhyānam,
    which becomes easier with practice,
    requires certain preparations to reduce
    the tendency of the mind to be distracted,
    either by being jumpy and agitated, or dull and inert.
    Chief among these preparations are proper diet and Prāṇāyāma.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2

    “During such a moment, without distractions,
    the power of the source of perception,
    full of clarity and completeness, shines forth.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 3

    “What is the nature of distraction?”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4

    “All mental distractions arise from the free play of the senses
    and only through continuing practice can one keep their power in check.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 18

    “It is intriguing, or even at times beguiling, in what
    choices we make in relation to the nine interventions
    elegantly presented in Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 30.
    In other words what ploys do we deploy and employ
    with regard to at least living intelligently within,
    even if unable to transform at this point in time,
    with what appears as if a distraction between how
    we feel we are and how we feel we would like to be.”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 30

    “The Antarāya are presented
    as a guide through life’s distractions,
    rather than a rationale for life’s obstacles.”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 30

    “It is difficult to realise the wonders of Cit
    within the wanderings of the Citta.”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verses 30-31

    “It can be said that
    sickness is Citta Vikṣepa
    and health is Citta Nirodha.”
    –  T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 34

    “What about others who are known as Vyutthita Citta,
    a mind easily prone to agitations and distractions?
    This second chapter known as Sādhana Pādaḥ caters to them.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two

    “The state of Dhyānam is possible in a seated posture.
    If a person lies down, it may induce sleep.
    If a person walks and moves about,
    he may be distracted by the objects around him.
    This posture must be in a place
    where the mind will not be distracted.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 2

    “The paradox of being in a state of distraction
    is that we are actually in a state of focus.
    Its just that we are focused on being turned outwards,
    as in the tendency of being scattered,
    as in Vyutthāna Saṃskāra,
    rather than being focused on being turned inwards,
    as in the tendency of being contained,
    as in Nirodha Saṃskāra.
    Both Saṃskāra are acquired tendencies
    and thus we can cultivate a choice within our oscillations.”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 9

    “Another way the mind functions is called Vikṣipta.
    We act but we have doubts;
    distractions come about,
    there are obstacles.
    The set direction does not look right
    and we don’t know what to do about it.”
    – TKV Desikachar Religiousness in Yoga
    ‘The Way the Mind Functions and the Concept of Nirodha’
    Chapter Eighteen Page 251

    “The fourth way the mind functions is called Ekāgratā.
    Here clarity has come about
    and we have direction and are able to proceed.
    What we want to do is much clearer
    and distractions hardly matter.
    This is also called Dhāraṇā which was explained earlier.
    Yoga is actually the beginning of Ekāgratā.
    Yoga suggest means to create conditions that gradually
    move the Kṣipta level of mind towards Ekāgratā.”
    – TKV Desikachar Religiousness in Yoga
    ‘The Way the Mind Functions and the Concept of Nirodha’
    Chapter Eighteen Page 251

    “Different people explain the cause of disease differently.
    In the Yoga Sūtra disease is Vikṣepā, a mind which is unstable.
    Mind loses its presence of mind before an object.”
    – TKV Desikachar France 1983

    “There are simple postures for Prāṇāyāma and Dhyāna,
    so that we can relax in the body and not be distracted by it.
    There are challenging postures,
    to enable us to master our bodies and for young people who
    will be engaged by the performance aspect of the posture.
    There are also corrective postures.”
    – TKV Desikachar England 1992

    “Krishnamacharya taught that a Samāhita Citta
    was a prerequisite starting point for Meditation.
    If so, how do we relate to the modern phenomenon
    that a Vikṣepa Citta can be a starting point for Meditation?
    Unless perhaps we discern that here it isn’t actually Meditation?”
    – 108 Dhāraṇā Practice Pointers

    “In terms of ageing mainframes and creaking joints,
    it is perhaps useful to remind ourselves that
    Yoga practice is much more than just Āsana.
    In other words, even as the body slows down,
    can we continue to slow the Breath down,
    can we continue to slow the Mind down,
    can we be still within the distraction of age?”
    – 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

    “The role of Sādhana such
    as Mudrā, Mantra and Nyāsa,
    are to take one beyond Duḥkha,
    rather than take one out of Vikṣepa.”
    – 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

    Links to Related Posts:

    • Yoga Sūtra on Stress – An interview with TKV Desikachar

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    Related

    This glossary with its similar, opposite and related concepts categories, supplemented by textual references and additional commentaries around the key word, is a both work in progress and constantly ever-expanding in terms of further cross-references, textual cross links and commentaries.
    As it continues to develop your comments and suggestions on your experience and how it may be enhanced are very welcome via this link, thank you.
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