Patanjali's concept of mental fluctuations (vritti) that create distorted perceptions and trigger cognitive biases through unconscious pattern repetition.
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali identifies vritti—the constant fluctuations and modifications of the mind—as the root cause of distorted perception and suffering. These mental modifications operate like cognitive grooves, automatically triggering biases without conscious awareness. When the mind habitually repeats patterns of interpretation, confirmation bias, and selective attention become entrenched as default operations. Understanding vritti reveals how cognitive biases aren't merely thinking errors but deep neuropsychological patterns that the mind unconsciously perpetuates. By recognizing these modifications as temporary mental states rather than truth, practitioners can create space between stimulus and response, interrupting bias before it solidifies into decision-making. This framework transforms cognitive bias from an intellectual puzzle into a contemplative practice of mind-mastery.
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