How To Understand the Meaning and Scope of Yoga

The great sage Patanjali has outlined the meaning and scope of Yoga in the beginning of his book "Yogasutra." He defined Yoga as - chitta (mind) vritti (thought) nirodhah (prevention) i.e. prevention of thoughts arising in mind. Here there are three words - mind, thought and prevention which need to be understood in detail. This article will discuss how to understand yoga.

• Mind (chitta) - Mind is something which can think and understand on its own. Nothing in this world can think and understand on its own except the mind of a being. Mind brings consciousness in a being. Without conscious mind a being is dead and there shall be no difference between a being and matter. Because of this mind a being acts, tries to live and feels that it exists or has life. Yoga is related to this mind only.
• Thought (vritti) - The Sanskrit word Vritti means work. The work of mind is to think. As the mind thinks, thoughts arise. So Vritti is thought for the mind. Mind is conscious and the nature of conscious mind is to think always. In the waking state mind relentlessly thinks and in dreaming state when a man is sleeping mind dreams. These thoughts have great power. We see and appreciate power of big engines, supercomputers or nuclear warheads. These are invented and triggered by minds of man. So ultimately it is the power of mind that is working everywhere. A tall skyscraper is first thought of and planned in mind and then it manifests on earth. By emitting these powerful thoughts to outside, mind gets overworked and tired. Body which is a manifestation of mind also gets tired and sometimes diseased. So the aim and scope of Yoga is to conserve this energy in mind and body for a better cause. 
• Prevention (nirodhah) - The aim of Yoga is to prevent these thoughts from mind. When a wild animal is domesticated, it works for the benefit of the owner. Similarly when thoughts are prevented and mind is surrounded, mind tends to come to its center. Center of mind is the center of peace, bliss and energy. Everybody has daily experience on this center of mind while a man goes to deep sleep. In deep sleep mind thinks nothing, sees nothing and so remains in its center. For this after a deep sleep a man feels peace, bliss an energetic. But this experience is very small in comparison to what one may get in Yoga. The aim and scope of Yoga is to experience total peace, bliss and immense power of mind.

However Yoga doesn't aim at preventing thoughts for ever. It tells prevention and doesn't tell annihilation. It only tells to prevent sensual thoughts while practicing Yoga so that one may realize one's true potential. Yoga doesn't teach inaction but teaches to shoulder all hardships in life.