Two Ancient Quests Converge
From the Himalayan caves to the cutting-edge labs of MIT, humanity has pursued one timeless mystery: What is consciousness? Ancient yogis called it Chitta, while modern neuroscientists grapple with its subjective aspects as Qualia.
In this article, we explore how two seemingly distant traditions are converging to decode the deepest essence of our being.
Chittavrittis: The Yogic Map of Mind
In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (~200 BCE), the term Chittavrittis refers to the various modifications or fluctuations of the mind. Patanjali categorized these into five types:
- Pramana (Correct Cognition): Perception based on direct experience, inference, or authoritative testimony.
- Viparyaya (Misperception): False knowledge, illusions, or delusions.
- Vikalpa (Imagination): Verbal knowledge devoid of real substance.
- Nidra (Sleep): Absence of content yet still a mental state.
- Smriti (Memory): Retention of past experiences.
Yogic science aims to still these vrittis, allowing the practitioner to experience pure, unmodified consciousness (Purusha). 
Qualia: The Hard Problem of Modern Science
In cognitive science, Qualia refers to the subjective, first-person experience of perception. The redness of a rose, the sweetness of honey, or the pain of a burn are all qualia.
Philosopher David Chalmers coined the term “The Hard Problem of Consciousness” in 1995, emphasizing that while we can map brain activities, explaining why those activities feel a certain way remains elusive.
- Empirical Studies: Yogic Practices Under the Scanner Modern science has not ignored the ancient claims of yogic traditions. Multiple empirical studies lend credence to their insights:
- Harvard (Sara Lazar, 2005-2018): Long-term meditators exhibited increased cortical thickness in areas related to attention, interoception, and sensory processing.
- University of Wisconsin (Richard Davidson): Tibetan monks demonstrated heightened gamma wave synchrony during meditation, reflecting advanced cognitive integration.
- Mind & Life Institute: Cross-cultural studies blending subjective reports with neuroimaging data.
These studies confirm that intentional mental training alters brain structures and functions, aligning with yogic claims of mastering chittavrittis.
Modern Theories of Consciousness
Several models attempt to scientifically explain consciousness:
- Integrated Information Theory (IIT): Proposed by Giulio Tononi, IIT attempts to quantify consciousness through a mathematical value called Phi (Φ).
- Global Workspace Theory (GWT): Stanislas Dehaene suggests consciousness arises when information becomes globally accessible across brain networks.
- Predictive Coding Models: These posit that the brain constantly predicts incoming stimuli, minimizing error signals.
Interestingly, these models mirror yogic observations about the layers and filters of perception. For instance, predictive coding resonates with Viparyaya and Vikalpa, where misperception or imagination fills in sensory gaps.
Historical Timeline: A Shared Pursuit
- ~200 BCE: Patanjali codifies Yoga Sutras
- 1929: C.I. Lewis coins “qualia”
- 1995: Chalmers presents the Hard Problem
- 2005: Neuroscientific studies on meditators begin scaling up
- 2014: Tegmark proposes Perceptronium
The timeline shows how ancient introspection and modern empirical research are not mutually exclusive but progressively convergent.
Bridging the Gap: Yogic Insights
Informing Neuroscience Yogic practices offer a first-person, experiential laboratory, while neuroscience provides third-person, measurable data. The emerging field of Neurophenomenology (Francisco Varela) attempts to blend both:
- Samadhi states, where chittavrittis are stilled, align with minimal neural noise and maximized coherence seen in advanced meditators.
- Concepts like Ahamkara (ego) and Asmita (self-identity) map onto cognitive models of the default mode network (DMN) activity.
- AI and Machine Consciousness: Can Chittavrittis Exist in Machines? DeepMind’s neural networks (2015-present): Models incorporating memory-like architectures mimic Smriti.
- IBM Watson and GPT models: Early forms of meta-cognition and contextual awareness, yet devoid of qualia.
While machines can simulate some cognitive functions, whether they possess qualia remains highly controversial. From a yogic view, machines may process information but lack Purusha, the witnessing consciousness.
Future Implications
- Therapeutic: Integrating yogic practices into mental health treatment.
- Technological: Informing AI development with human-like adaptive cognition models.
- Philosophical: Reviving ancient insights to address existential and ethical questions in AI and neuroscience.
The Merging Horizons
The dialogue between Chittavrittis and Qualia reflects an epochal convergence of wisdom traditions and cutting-edge science. As we decode the mind’s hidden currents, both ancient seers and modern scientists may find that they are walking parallel paths toward the same mysterious summit—the understanding of Being itself.
“Yoga is the cessation of the modifications of the mind.”
—Patanjali
