PH 5 citir eva cetana-padād avarūḍhā cetya-saṃkocinī cittam
citi: absolute Consciousness
eva: itself
cetana: uncontracted or expanded Consciousness
padād: state, stage
avarūḍhā: descend
cetya: object of perception
saṃkocinī: contracted, limited
citta: mind, individual awareness
Consciousness contracts from its expanded state and becomes our individual awareness, conforming to objects of perception.
The last phrase of Pratyabhijñā-hṛdayam 5: “conforming to the objects of perception” is so important to consider as we apply yogic teachings to our lives. Our citta, our individual consciousness, contracts to perceive whatever we are currently paying attention to, the object of perception/cetya. Think about that, because it has huge implications for our work with our own consciousness. The mind is saturated with whatever we turn our attention to.
When one looks at something, the mind moves to that and becomes contracted in the sense that when focusing on one thing, other things are lost, and they aren’t seen. Note I’m using sight here as just one example of the senses, but this is true of all the senses and the thoughts themselves. For example, right now you’re focusing on these words to the exclusion of anything else. Your mind is becoming saturated with this teaching.
From the perspective of living our life and refining awareness, where one puts attention has profound significance. For example, the object of perception, what one focuses on, can be some pattern of thought. It could be something that arises from within us like a habitual way of thinking—some reactionary, obsessive, or addictive pattern. On the other hand, it could be a remembrance of the highest perspective.
This may seem like a small point, but it has huge implications for how to live your yoga. Since consciousness is contracted according to where the focus is directed, it is important to consider where you consistently placing awareness because consciousness contracts around that. The mind is colored by what it perceives. This is why what one surrounds oneself with is so central to the journey of yoga.
A related teaching says something like: “You become the company you keep, so keep good company.” Anything you surround yourself with and take into your body and awareness—people, things, images, food—affects the different levels of being. Therefore, you should consider carefully what company you keep, and what is repeatedly brought into awareness through the body, senses, and thoughts, as this has a profound effect on what you become.
To summarize, this sūtra (PH 5) teaches us that one manifestation of the Highest is our very own mind, citta. The tradition provides many explanations of this contracting process and its results are given. Yet, if we consistently place our awareness internally toward our hearts, for example through the practice of meditation, then the mind becomes saturated with the qualities of the Highest.
Reflect and Explore
Are you aware of the movements of your mind/citta-vṛttis? Do you see those movements as good, bad, indifferent? How do they influence your life?
How do you work with what arises in your awareness?
Take time to watch the workings of your mind and notice what you bring into your awareness through the senses and thoughts. (This might include movies, music, news, art, spiritual teachings, physical surroundings, relationships.) How does each feel? How does that affect you? Does each thing brought into awareness make you feel more or less connected to your Heart center? Does it affect your subsequent thoughts and actions—for instance how you act toward others or how you feel about yourself and others?
How does the practice of yoga/meditation relate to the teaching that your mind contracts around the object of perception?
