- Flow of Awareness
Vedānta
chit (pure Awareness)
↓ illumines
vṛtti (mental modification)
↓ produces
saṃvedana (awareness of an object)
Example: Hearing a sound → “śabda‑vṛtti” arises → chit illumines it → you experience “I hear.”
Yoga
puruṣa (pure seer)
↓ reflected in
citta (mind-stuff)
↓ becomes
citta‑vṛtti (mental fluctuation)
Example: Seeing a form → citta takes that shape → puruṣa appears as “I see.”
Buddhism
hetu-pratyaya (conditions)
↓ give rise to
vijñāna-kṣaṇa (moment of cognition)
↓ immediately
niruddha (ceases)
Example: A visual contact → “cakṣu‑vijñāna” arises → passes instantly.
- Mental Training Pathways
Vedānta (SCS)
śama → dama → uparati → titikṣā → samādhāna
Example: A distraction arises → śama notices → dama restrains → uparati withdraws → samādhāna re‑centers.
Yoga
pratyāhāra → dhāraṇā → dhyāna → samādhi
Example: Breath is chosen → senses withdraw (pratyāhāra) → attention holds (dhāraṇā) → flows continuously (dhyāna) → merges (samādhi).
Buddhism
sati → anuprevena (non‑involvement) → vipassanā → nirvāṇa
Example: A sensation arises → sati notes it → no grasping → insight sees impermanence → clinging ends.
- Object‑Awareness vs. Pure Awareness
Vedānta
saṃvedana = object‑awareness (vṛtti)
chit = pure Awareness (Self)
Example: Thought “I’m worried” = vṛtti. The Awareness that knows the thought = chit.
Yoga
citta-vṛtti = object‑awareness
puruṣa = pure Awareness
Example: Emotion arises in citta → puruṣa is untouched.
Buddhism
vijñāna = object‑awareness
(no pure Awareness behind it)
Example: A feeling arises → it is just a dharma → no underlying Self.
- Purpose of Mental Training
Vedānta
antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi → jñāna-yogyatā → ātma‑jñāna → mokṣa
Example: Mind becomes clear → teaching operates → Self is recognized.
Yoga
citta-vṛtti-nirodha → puruṣa-darśana → kaivalya
Example: Mind becomes still → puruṣa stands alone.
Buddhism
sati → anattā-darśana → kleśa‑kṣaya → nirvāṇa
Example: Mindfulness reveals non-self → defilements end.
- Temporality of Cognition
Vedānta
vṛtti = momentary
chit = eternal
Yoga
citta-vṛtti = momentary
puruṣa = eternal
Buddhism
all dharmas = momentary
no eternal entity
Example: A thought lasts a moment; Awareness (Vedānta/Yoga) does not. In Buddhism, both thought and awareness are momentary.
- Final Realization
Vedānta
ahaṃ brahmāsmi (non-dual Self)
Yoga
draṣṭā-dṛśya-viveka (seer distinct from seen)
Buddhism
anattā (no enduring Self)
Example: Vedānta: “I am Awareness itself.” Yoga: “I am puruṣa, not the mind.” Buddhism: “There is no ‘I’ behind experience.”