How can I improve my critical thinking and spot flawed reasoning?

Patanjali's teaching on *prajna*—direct seeing—is essentially advanced critical thinking. It means training your mind to observe without immediately judging or accepting. When you encounter an argument, slow down. Ask: What's being claimed here? What evidence is offered? What's being assumed as true without proof? Where does emotion enter—both in the argument and in my own reaction to it? Common traps to watch for: Ad hominem (attacking the person, not the idea). Appeal to authority ("experts say" without evidence). False dichotomies ("either this or nothing"). Circular reasoning (restating the conclusion as proof). Confirmation bias (accepting only information that agrees with you). But here's what makes this a *practice*, not just a skill: notice your own reasoning patterns. When do you slip into logical fallacies? When do you believe something because it feels good rather than because it's sound? This self-observation is Patanjali's actual teaching. Start by examining one belief you hold strongly. Can you articulate exactly *why* you believe it? Can you state the opposing view fairly, in terms its advocates would recognize? That willingness to interrogate your own certainty—that's where critical thinking becomes transformation. Practice it in writing first, where you can't hide from yourself.