By Dr. PRAVIN  KUMAR

​

​

​

​

Mental health is closely connected with physical health and overall holistic health of individual. Sometimes mental wellbeing is even important than physical fitness because mental illness can expressed on body through psychosomatic disorders.

According to WHO health defined as "A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". WHO  also define mental health as "a state of well being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community" where as Corey Keyes identifies three key components of mental health are social wellbeing, physical wellbeing and emotional wellbeing.

Yoga is actually a practical manual to get physical, mental and social well being. As in Patanjali's Yoga sutras define Yoga as samadhi (according to Vyasa) in this state consciousness-potentia establish in its own nature. Individual remain self content and satisfied and no need of outside interaction is the supreme state of mind where mental health is optimum. But in other states of mind when consciousness interact with outside world, consciousness allows the mind to interact with world. In this state mind gets stimuli (Vritis) coming from outside and effecting the state of mind and getting store these stimuli as memories and experiences. According to Patanjali these stimuli can be divided into five categories which can be negative or positive for mental health. Mind is like a magnet it does not have to do any effort  to attract the stimuli though when mind's allow these stimuli get attracted to the mind and keep coming continuous as thoughts without any break. Actually thoughts are individual but get merged as in a candle flame, when we first light the flame it consume the wax and though continuous supply of wax, flame remain unbroken. In memory whole set of action remain and not in broken thoughts.  These thoughts are numerous and impossible to count it. Sometimes thoughts are so subtle and quick that it does not come under cognition. Or according to neuroscience it does not evokes the potential to recognize it and they do not put significant imprint on memory, it remain unnoticed by cognition. Even though Patanjali manage to categories these numerous thoughts or stimuli into five-folds and two kinds.

1. Valid proofs (Praman) - Direct perception, Inference and authority 

2. Perverse cognition (Viprayaya)- False knowledge without any basis in nature.

3. Imaginary cognition (Vikalpa) - Depending only upon verbal communication without reality.

4. Sleep (Nidra) - Sleep is a kind of cognition because one reflect about it.

5. Memory (Smriti) - Thoughts get generated from the unconscious store.

All above five-folded cognition generate two kinds of effects on our mind these are either positive thoughts or negative thoughts. First three folds of thoughts come from outside world and human cognition reflects upon these and either get lost or stored in long term or short term memories. This is how we learn in our life events and keep them store in memory and future  actions are guided or influenced by these memory. Last two types of cognition are internal of the human mind. When there is no active cognition, means during sleep our cognition get absent but we still remember it when we wake up as we slept good or relax and we reflect on this absence of outside thoughts or cognition. Last cognition is memory because it govern our present and future actions. During meditation sleep and memory are the huddles in realizing our inner self. The solution for negative thoughts is given  by patanjali as "Vitarka badhane prati paksha bhavanam 2.33" means

• Vitarka = Uncertainty, doubt, questionable

• Badhane = Opposing, removal, suspended, annulment

• Pratipaksha = Opposition, opposite, adversary

• Bhavanam = Thought, manifesting, producing, imagining

According to Swami Veda Bharti when misratiocinations and deviant thoughts come one should counter these with cultivating opposite thought principle while contemplation. Actually thoughts are flow of mental energy which would be action in future and character in long run. So when you think positive you are in positive or negative frame of mind and it attract same thoughts and make action pattern. When one realize there are negative thoughts are coming, these thoughts should be stop as soon as start, though it's difficult to notice negative thoughts. Many time we ignore these thoughts and keep going and it create a big impression on our mind. Human being has control over thoughts and attract positive or negative thought with determination. He can choose the thought pattern at will. First of all as soon as negative thought arise interrupt it  by simply acknowledging them, after think peacefully how it will affect the thought pattern and move one into negative zone. Patanjali gives an instrument to "chit prasadanam 2.33" keep positive thought pattern. We can apply it ( friendship, compassion, joy, neutrality) to the negative thoughts, it will help to create an opposite thought. With the help of "pratipaksha bhavana" opposite thoughts creation when negative thoughts arise and using the instrument of "chit prasadanam" one can maintain mental health. Because thought is a force and  mind is a magnet which attract always the thoughts. Human being need to filter the frame of thoughts pattern with will power to remain in positive side. because thoughts are waiting to become reality. The more you think same thought which will become belief, more same thoughts attract same manifestation in real experience.