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To understand the cause of all mental conflicts and diseases,
we must understand that the mind comprises a conscious part
and a sub conscious part.
Conflicts and mental turbulence occurs because we cannot
reconcile our conscious part with what is going on inside
the deeper realms of the mind. Further, the subconscious
mind itself is the home of many negative thoughts that are
in a constant tussle with each other.
The aim in yoga psychology (as also in the modern
psychology that we are aware of) is to reconcile these
conflicts and bring them in harmony with the conscious mind.
How the subconscious is formed
According to Swami Satyananda every action has a
momentum. At the end of every momentum a seed is dropped
into the subconscious, which is a memory of that action.
These 'seeds' are called Samskaras in yoga or archetypes in
psychology.
The mind has a way to bury unpleasant memories and
negative experiences into its depths. So the subconscious is
a cumulative memory of countless experiences and thoughts
including negative emotions.
Dream analysis is an important part of psychology wherein
suppressed unconscious material is discovered and then
released. The practitioner introspects on the subconscious
messages that are being perceived by the dreaming mind.
The yoga solution
The yoga counterpart of this is 'antar mouna' (inner
silence). This is a meditation technique in yoga which helps
in performing the same function.
There are 2 main differences between conventional dream
analysis and the yoga technique of 'antar mouna'. In antar
mouna, you are your own psychologist. There is no other
person doing it for you. The second important difference is
that in 'antar mouna' the aim is to remain fully conscious
at all times. In dream analysis that is not the case.
In this yoga technique you are taught to bring out your
unconscious thoughts by provoking them and then witnessing
the thought pattern. According to Swami Satyananda, when a
thought comes into your mind, you can break out of the
conflict by learning to remain just a mute witness to it. If
you become involved in it, then it will go back to be
recycled at a later date. Therefore, you are encouraged to
be a witness to the thought pattern and then throw out the
worthless thought.
In antar mouna you are taught to see your mind as it is
now and proceed into the state of thoughtlessness. You are
taught to be aware of your dream in the conscious state.
Once this is achieved, you can also learn to be aware of
your dream in the sleeping state.
This yoga technique when learnt, helps to resolve the
deepest of fears and neuroses and brings about a calmness
and tranquility in every day life. You can learn to
communicate with the psychic level of your awareness which
forms the bedrock of all dreams and visions.
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