Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 4.15 offers a profound psychological breakthrough for the digital age: Vastu-samye chitta-bhedat tayor vibhaktah panthah. This translates to the idea that although an object remains the same, it is perceived differently by different minds.
In our world of rapid-fire communication, we often mistake our perception of a situation for the absolute truth of the situation itself. We see a ‘short’ text and perceive rudeness; our colleague sees the same text as efficiency. To master your mental state, you must learn to separate the ‘object’ from your ‘projection.’
Here is how to practice cognitive flexibility using this ancient wisdom:
Step 1: Identify the Neutral Object
When you feel a surge of irritation or anxiety, pause. Strip away your emotional adjectives. Instead of labeling a situation as ‘that aggressive email,’ identify it as ‘a digital message containing three sentences.’ By neutralizing the object, you reclaim your power over the reaction.
Step 2: Map Your Mental Filter
Ask yourself, ‘What state is my mind in right now?’ If you are tired, hungry, or stressed, your perception (Chitta) is tinted. Acknowledge that your current interpretation is a result of your internal weather, not necessarily the external reality.
Step 3: Run the ‘Alternate Reality’ Simulation
Challenge your mind to create three different interpretations of the same event. If a friend hasn’t called back, consider: 1) They are overwhelmed, 2) They lost their phone, 3) They are intentionally ignoring you. By viewing all three as equally possible, you break the monopoly of the negative thought.
Step 4: Choose the Path of Peace
Since the sutra teaches that the object and the perception are separate paths, you have the freedom to choose the path that serves your equanimity. Pick the interpretation that allows you to remain calm and focused, rather than the one that fuels conflict.
By practicing this daily, you stop reacting to the world and start consciously interacting with your own perception.
Reality is a single thread, but the mind weaves it into a thousand different tapestries.