Vritti: The Mental Whirlpools

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes vritti as the whirlpools and fluctuations of the mind—the constant stream of thoughts, emotions, and perceptions that create distortion in how we see reality. Cognitive distortions are precisely these vritti in action: habitual mental patterns that twist perception. By recognizing distortions as vritti rather than truth, you create distance from them. This framework shifts distortions from "facts about reality" to "temporary mental fluctuations." Patanjali teaches that mastery begins with witnessing these patterns without judgment, then systematically training the mind to recognize and release them. Understanding vritti transforms distortions from invisible forces into observable phenomena you can work with consciously.