I t is a common perception that the human mind works as a window and looks at the reality exactly as it is. But both Yoga psychology and neuroscience suggest something quite different. They believe that the mind behaves more as a mirror rather than a window. It not only observes the reality,but it reflects, reshapes, and mostly distorts it. The ancient Yogic texts explain this phenomenon very clearly. In Yoga , the mind is called Chitta. This Chitta is not the pure awareness, but a reflective instrument. Like a mirror it takes impressions from the world and reflects them back to consciousness. If the mirror is clear and steady, the reflection is accurate. But if the mirror is dusty, disturbed, and shaky, the reflection is distorted. This is the reason that Yoga gives so much emphasis on calming and purifying the mind. The famous definition of Yoga given by the seer Patanjali is the stillness of the fluctuations of the mental tendencies. When the fluctuations reduce, the mirror of the mind becomes steady. At that time the reality can be seen more clearly. Neuroscience is also discovering something similar.

 

According to neuroscientific research , the brain does not passively record like the camera. Instead, it constantly interprets and predicts. Sensory information from our sense organs reaches the brain , but the brain mixes this information with memories, past experiences, emotions, and mental impressions before producing our spectrum of the reality. In other words, we don’t see the world as it is , we see the world as the interpretation of the brain. This is the reason that two people see the same event, but view differently. Their past experiences, emotional state , and mental patterns influence what they perceive. Neuroscience calls it the predictive processing of the brain. The brain always predicts what it expects to see and accordingly it adjusts its prediction based upon the incoming information. Yoga recognises this mechanism of the mind thousands of years ago. Yogic thinkers have described these mental patterns as Sanskaras , deep impressions made and engraved by past experiences.

 

These impressions influence the mind to react to new situations. If the mind carries the load of fear, anger , and attachment, the mirror becomes coloured by these tendencies. For example, an anxious person sees the threat everywhere even where none exists. Another person with a calm and balanced mind may see the same situation as normal or even an opportunity. This understanding has profound implications for human wellbeing. If our perception of the reality depends on the conditions of the mind, the inner practices become extremely important. Yoga emphasises Pranayama, meditation, and ethical principles as the inner practices to cultivate the mental framework. These practices help clean the mirror of the mind. Neuroscience supports these insights. Yogic practices reduce the reactivity of the brain and enhance its responsive and cognitive functions. The brain becomes better at observation without being overwhelmed by emotions and impulses. A clear mind is not an empty mind. It is a mind which reflects the reality with minimum bias. When the mind becomes disciplined and steady, wisdom starts to emerge spontaneously.

(The writer is Former DG Police & CG, Homeguards, Maharashtra) ■