Different types of thoughts(Vritti) according to Scriptures And How to Handle Them

Vritti means thoughts.

Mind has two faculties [or read it thoughts are of two types] : ahamkara Vritti, idamkara vritti.

Ahamkara Vritti means "I" thought and related modifications.Ahamkara vritti is identification with a particular notion in mind.

Suffering is Ahamkara vritti.

Idamkara Vritti means "This" thought. So when i see a rock, i get this thought.

Idamkara vritti is modification that just shows what is.

Example: If i see a tree the corresponding thought arises in mind. This is idamkara vritti.It just tells us what is.

Pain is idamkara vritti.

Ahamkara vritti's non presence is required. but idamkara vritti is basic necessity for us to function, talk, speak etc.

Pure Ahamkara Vritti is there even in Jnanis (suddha manas) because,idamkara vritti is not possible without Ahamkara vritti.

Ramana Maharshi says

Small desires such as the desire to eat, drink and sleep and attend to calls of nature, though these may also be classed among desires, you can safely satisfy. They will not implant vasanas in your mind, necessitating further birth. Those activities are just necessary to carry on life and are not likely to develop or leave behind vasanas or tendencies. As a general rule, therefore, there is no harm in satisfying a desire where the satisfaction will not lead to further desires by creating vasanas in the mind. (Day by Day with Bhagavan, 12th April, 1946)

More Over My Spritual Friend Udai garu wants to add few points

The scriptures teach "Learn not to come in the sway of Raga-Dvesha" ! that is the essential sadhana.

To have no Raga-Dvesha. Not possible.

To not come under the Sway of Raga-Dvesha is Realization.

Even a Realized person has Raga-Dvesha. No one can say eating neem leaves is the same as eating ice cream.

One is repulsive and the other is sweet.But to not come under the sway of Raga-Dvesha is Realized living.

My spiritual Friend Udai Shankar garu wants to add few more points

For the sense of incompleteness to be, thoughts are required.Without thoughts no one can feel incomplete.

I may be suffering from the most dreaded disease ... if i have no thoughts abt it i cannot suffer!

Suffering needs thoughts!

Many people started saying "u should stop thoughts" ! Please see that this is not the way out. Let me explain.

Suppose i am standing here and i am hit by a stone hurled for some purpose by someone! My "physical" body is hit by "physical stone". The Physical stone cannot hit my thoughts! coz thoughts are subtle. The stone cannot hit space! Stone can hit a physical object.

Similarly, a thought can hit a mental form. A thought cannot hit "Mental Space --- Consciousness" ! If i am getting hit by a thought, that means some mental form is created, called "I" and its this form that is getting hit.

So if i am hit by a thought, it would be stupid to stop thoughts for that reason. Instead the mental form should not created. its like someone looking into the well and thinking his head has fallen. the solution is not to stop looking into the well... or stop the well from reflecting ! thats absolute nonsense. The solution is to know and understand that its a reflection and not me!

Same with the mental form. stop identifying with the mental roles / forms ... that is Realization.

So we have to observe the thoughts and see who is getting hit by these thoughts To clearly understand that i cannot be hit by the thoughts.


Readers are requested to read ramana maharshi views regarding thoughts(Vritti) and their elimination

http://prashantaboutindia.blogspot.com/2010/02/ramana-maharshi-about-sanyasam-and.html

http://prashantaboutindia.blogspot.com/2009/07/role-of-thought-in-daily-life-by-dr-p-v.html