Nirodha Saṁskāra: How the Mind Transforms in Deep Yoga One of the most fascinating ideas in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is the subtle inner transformation that happens as the mind becomes still. What Is Nirodha? Patanjali defines yoga as: “Yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ” (Yoga Sutra 1.2)Yoga is the cessation (nirodha) of the fluctuations of the mind. But how do we actually reach that state? It doesn’t happen all at once — it’s a gradual transformation where the restless patterns of thought are replaced by inner stillness. The Two Competing Tendencies In Sutra 3.9, Patanjali describes two forces in the mind: Vyutthāna Saṁskāra: the tendency toward distraction and mental chatter Nirodha Saṁskāra: the tendency toward silence and restraint As we meditate and practice, the nirodha-saṁskāras grow stronger, and the vyutthāna-saṁskāras fade away. This shift is called nirodha-pariṇāma, or the transformation toward inner stillness. The Inner Shift The mind doesn’t go silent all at once. It moves through many moments of stillness, where restraint begins to dominate. Over time, these moments string together into a deep, sustained state of peace. Understanding nirodha-saṁskāra helps us see that meditation isn’t about forcing the mind, but about training it gently, allowing new patterns of stillness to take root. Every time we sit in awareness, we’re imprinting peace into the mind itself. Yoga is about replacing mental noise with inner clarity. Patanjali’s wisdom reminds us that transformation comes not from struggle, but from consistent practice and subtle inner change. - 🌟 Stay Connected & Deepen Your Practice If you’d like to participate in future live sessions, consider joining the Kriya Yoga Online Patreon Community or applying to the Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship Program. 📘 For continued inspiration and instruction, check out Ryan Kurczak’s latest book:An Essential Guide to Kriya Yoga Practice, available in hardcover and paperback on Amazon. 🧘‍♂️ Your host, Ryan Kurczak, is a Kriya Yoga meditation teacher and author, authorized to teach in 2005 by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct student of Paramahansa Yogananda. 🔗 Explore more resources: Patreon Community: Support the work & access live sessions👉 https://www.patreon.com/KriyaYoga Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship, blog posts & books:👉 https://kriyayogaonline.com Online Classes for All Levels:👉 https://kriya-yoga.teachable.com/ Hundreds of free videos on YouTube:👉 https://www.youtube.com/user/KriyaYogaOnline Thank you for listening, and may your path be filled with clarity, strength, and peace.