Chitta Prasadanam, as prescribed by Maharishi Patanjali in his renowned Yoga Sutras, offers valuable wisdom to help us maintain a peaceful and beautiful state of mind, regardless of the actions of others.
In yoga, Chitta refers to the “mind-stuff,” while Prasadanam means the act of making something pure and beautiful.
Chitta Prasadan is a sublime practice for clearing the mind of impurities by cultivating four essential mental virtues: Maitri (Friendliness), Karuna (Compassion), Mudita (Joyfulness), and Upeksha (Indifference). This practice enables us to find inner peace by fostering loving relationships with others.
Patanjali explains this in the 33rd Sutra of the first chapter, Samadhi Pada, where he prescribes the four attitudes we should cultivate toward others in various situations.
This sutra on Chitta Prasadan follows the one on Chitta Vikshepa (disturbances of the mind). Patanjali explains that mental disturbances such as sadness, disappointment, anger, and imbalance in breathing are caused by nine types of Antarayas (distractions) that arise on the yogic journey to self-realization.
Maharishi Patanjali prescribes Chitta Prasadan as a method to overcome these obstacles and counter the endless wave of thoughts that arise.
Yoga Sutra 1.33
In sutra 1.33, Patanjali explains a yogi must cultivate four attitudes of the heart towards people in order to lead the mind (Chitta) towards peace and happiness (Prasadanam).
The sutra goes like this:
Maitree-karuna-muditopekshanan Sukha-duhkha-punyapunyavishayanan Bhavanatash Chitta-prasadanam
Yoga Sutra 1.33
Here’s the breakdown of words in this sutra.
Maitree – friendliness
Karuna – compassion
Mudita – Joy
Upeksha – indifference
Sukh – happiness
Dukh – sadness
Punya – virtuous acts
Apunya – wrongdoings
Vishanayam – regarding
Bhavana – feelings
Chitta – mind-stuff,
Prasadhan – clearing of impurities
By cultivating friendliness towards the happiness of others, compassion towards their sorrow, joy towards their virtuous actions, and indifference towards their wrongdoings, we clear the mind and allow ourselves to experience inner peace
Understanding four mental attitudes to attain peace
According to the sutra, practicing the four mental virtues namely – Maitri, Karuna, Mudita and Upeksha is the ultimate way to experience the calmness of the mind.
1. Maitri – friendliness
Maitri can be understood as the feeling of friendliness or loving-kindness. This part of the sutra encourages developing kind and friendly thoughts toward the happiness of others.
We all know people who seem more blessed than we are, whether in terms of wealth, beauty, or possessions. Often, we compare ourselves to them.
Maharishi Patanjali teaches us to regain our peace of mind by cultivating friendly thoughts toward those who are happier than us, rather than allowing insecure thoughts to cloud our minds.
The renowned yogi Swami Vivekananda interprets it as having friendly thoughts toward all fellow human beings, reminding us that we are part of one cosmic whole and connected to each other in meaningful ways.
2. Karuna – compassion
Karuna refers to the attitude of compassion toward the suffering of others. This part of the sutra teaches us to develop loving compassion for those who are in pain or experiencing hardship.
Our minds may be accustomed to being indifferent toward others’ pain, especially when it is not our own. Alternatively, we may feel pity for those less fortunate than us, but pity only serves to separate us from others.
Instead, by training the mind to genuinely feel compassion and concern for others, we can deepen our connection with them and with our higher self.
3. Mudita – Joy
Mudita means joy or delight. This part of the sutra encourages us to develop happiness over the good deeds and achievements of others, rather than allowing envy to take hold.
Jealousy is a vice that can easily arise when we hear of others’ successes. The human mind often looks for flaws, even in the most virtuous people.
While it may not always feel natural to feel joy over the achievements of neighbors or colleagues, we do tend to feel elated about the accomplishments of those close to us. The key difference is that we tend to celebrate the happiness of those with whom we feel a personal connection.
We must remind ourselves that we are all connected in this world. When we genuinely rejoice in others’ successes, free from envy, divine peace flows within us.
4. Upeksha – Apunya
Upeksha refers to displaying indifference or neutrality toward the negative behaviors or vices of others. This may be the most difficult attitude to practice.
It’s important to admit that it takes deliberate effort not to be judgmental toward others. Our minds often cling to others’ mistakes, looking for opportunities to correct them.
However, Maharishi Patanjali advocates the opposite—showing acceptance or equanimity toward wrong actions.
One way to instill this habit is by reminding ourselves that we all make mistakes, often without even being aware of them. Others may be doing the same. We must train our minds to understand that simply overlooking others’ wrongdoings is the prescribed way to find peace according to ancient scriptures.
Practising over preaching
While this all sounds wonderful in theory, can we truly embody these attitudes in our daily lives, especially when our minds are so accustomed to acting otherwise?
According to yogic philosophy, the key is to train the mind through Abhyasa (repeated practice) and Vairagya (constant detachment).
Once these mental virtues become ingrained in our behavior, they will help us navigate even the most challenging situations with ease and foster loving, harmonious relationships with others.
