Citta Vikṣepa

Hi beauties!

We're approaching the holidays and New Year's resolutions, and a meditative post is just what we need

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Navigating the Mental Labyrinth of Meditation

Meditation can bring relief, but often there are turbulences, just like a flight on a plane. Have you ever wondered why? Well, in yogic philosophy, we speak of Citta Vikṣepa (चित्त विक्षेप) /ˈtʃɪtːə vɪkˈʃeɪpə/ - the map of mental obstacles that can deviate your inner journey.

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The Nine Mental Disruptors

• Vyādhi (व्याधि) /vjɑːdʰɪ/ - Physical Discomfort

  When the body is not well, the mind follows—feeling sick? Meditation becomes a challenge.

• Styāna (स्त्यान) /stjɑːnə/ - Motivational Collapse

  That moment when the brain seems blocked and you have a pessimistic vision: no drive, no focus, just pure mental fog.

• Saṃśaya (संशय) /sɐmˈʃɐjə/ - The Spiral of Doubt

  Endless questions swirling in your head. "Am I doing everything correctly? Is this really working?". Insecurity.

• Pramāda (प्रमाद) /prɐˈmɑːdə/ - The Ego Trap

• When you think you know everything and everyone else is wrong. It's typical of human nature, but you must learn to overcome it.

• Ālasya (आलस्य) /ɑːˈləsjə/ - Procrastination Station

  "I'll meditate tomorrow" – The eternal promise that never happens. Continuously postponing the task.

• Avirati (अविरति) /əvɪˈrɪtɐ/ - Sensory Seduction

  Can't stop scrolling? Craving that last piece of cake? Being attracted to small but instant gratifications.

• Bhrānti Darśana (भ्रान्ति दर्शन) /bʱɑːntɪ dərˈʃənə/ - The False Wisdom Trap

  Thinking you have everything under control. Even though, most likely, you don't.

• Alabdha Bhūmikatva (अलब्ध भूमिकत्व) /əlɐbdʱə bʱuːmɪˈkətvə/ - Concentration Confusion

  Struggling to concentrate? Your mind is "scattered". Perhaps you'll catch others around: the world is full of them!

• Anavasthitatva (अनवस्थितत्व) /ɐnəvəstʱɪˈtətvə/ - The Self Oscillation

  When you think you've mastered meditation, the focus begins to slip away.

Four Techniques of Mental Mastery

• Maitrī (मैत्री) /mɐjˈtrɪː/ - Friendship Vibrations

  Sending positive energy to everyone - even to your worst enemy.

• Karuṇā (करुणा) /kəˈruːnɑː/ - Compassion in Action

  Not just feeling compassion, but doing something concrete to help.

• Muditā (मुदिता) /muˈdɪtɑː/ - The Joy Trick

  Genuinely celebrating others' success without any jealousy.

• Upekṣā (उपेक्षा) /uˈpekʃɑː/ - The Zen Approach

  Looking at life's challenges without getting entangled.

The Secret Weapon: Prāṇāyāma (प्राणायाम)

 /prɑːnɑːˈjɑːmə/

Think of it as your mind's reset button. By synchronizing your breath with your mental state, you're essentially telling the brain to calm down.

Key Benefits:

• Calms the nervous system

• Dissolves mental fog

• It brings you back to the centre

The truth is that meditation isn't about perfection. It's about showing up, facing your mental chaos, and gradually finding your way to inner peace. Some days you'll do it perfectly, other days you'll struggle – all of this is normal.

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Keep breathing, keep practicing, and remember: your mind is a tool, not the boss.