Vrittis of Svadhishthana

The Challenge: This emotion manifests as thinking you are better than others to build a sense of self-importance. Ego needs to feel superior by belittling the achievements of others. It indicates lack of regard for the efforts or well-being for others and lack of compassion. On a deeper level, it reflects indifference to suffering. By blocking compassion, Avajñā creates a cold, stagnant, quality in the sacral waters, preventing the natural flow of empathy and connection.

Solution: To overcome this, encourage the efforts of others and be joyful for their good fortune. Be helpful. Cultivate empathy and humility. When faced with another’s misery or stagnation, replace disdain with compassion, see their struggle as a cloud passing over their sun, rather than their true identity. Be supportive of positive actions and never ignore harm to society. Make an effort to understand the feelings of others to keep the waters of the Svadhishthana flowing.

The Challenge: Múrcchá describes losing your good judgment under the influence of the six “mind enemies” of lust, anger, greed, arrogance, delusion and jealousy. It also refers to a superficial understanding of spirituality, where you might focus only on physical benefits (eg of yoga) instead of deeper spiritual truths. The mind is foggy, obscured by the veil of Maya.

Solution: To counteract this, practice pratyahara, withdrawing the senses to focus inward to connect with your true self. Seek genuine spirituality, direct your mind towards truth through meditation and pranayama. Ignite the fire of right mindfulness to actively work to overcome ignorance, recognizing that a purely physical reality (Maya) veils deeper truths. By following these practices, you can prevent your mind from being swayed by Múrcchá, leading to greater clarity and genuine spiritual insight.

The Challenge: This involves respect, courtesy, and humility, but in its “whirlpool” state, it becomes over-indulgence. Kindness can become a weakness when it hinders another’s growth, encouraging dependancy or encourages manipulation.

Solution: The key is to temper compassion with good judgment. Learn to set boundaries and say “no” when necessary. Offer help a bit at a time to see if it’s genuinely utilized and appreciated, otherwise, if you are a giving person, you risk being taken advantage of.

The Challenge: Self-doubt erodes confidence, leading to uncertainty and lack of inner peace. It can manifest as procrastination or blaming external factors for personal problems. When we have no doubt we have certainty, peace and composure.

Solution: To build confidence, learn to have faith in yourself and trust in the universe. Take action by overcoming obstacles one step at a time, and affirm to yourself, “I can do this.” Learn from past errors without letting them define you. When you find the lesson in a negative experience, it transforms into a positive learning experience and then you are able to release it.Take responsibility for your acrions, practice self-kindness, forgive yourself, and use criticism as a tool for improvement rather than taking it to heart. Trust your instincts in uncertain situations.

The Challenge: This is a state of profound defeatism, fear, and purposelessness, where everything seems lost and nothing brings joy. It can manifest as widespread panic or deep depression.

Solution: Combat this with the powerful auto-suggestion: “I have come to win. I am destined to win.” Embrace a winner’s mindset and encourage others to do the same. Reject negative self-talk. Through meditation, gain control over your thoughts and feelings. Understand that emotions are temporary; observe them (e.g. “I feel sad” instead of “I am sad”) to prevent them from consuming you. Practice mindfulness to stay grounded in the present moment.

The Challenge: This emotion involves a lack of compassion, leading to actions that can harm living beings or the environment. It’s about being hard-hearted or indifferent to suffering.

Acoustic Root & Solution:  The core remedy here is compassion. While self-preservation is natural, it should be practiced with gratitude and kindness. When faced with cruelty in others, try to understand that it often stems from their own suffering, fostering pity rather than anger. Practice forgiveness to liberate yourself from hatred. This understanding allows for a more harmonious existence with all life.

 The Approach: Use the Grey Rock method. Arrogance feeds on a reaction. By being as uninteresting and neutral as a grey rock, you starve the ego-play. Don’t argue your worth; your results will do that for you. If someone is distainful try asking them why they are being dismissive. Disdainful people often rely on the other person being too polite to mention their behavior. By naming it, you pull the rug out from under their act.

The Approach: Practice radical consistency. Radical consistency is the practice of becoming so predictable that you effectively “starve” the other person’s suspicion. However, if their suspicion turns into accusations, don’t over-explain—sometimes “I’m sorry you feel that way” is a complete sentence. Use this method as a tool to see if the other person is capable of healing.

The Approach: Set clear boundaries. If someone’s affection feels heavy or conditional, kindly define your space. Enjoy the warmth, but don’t let their need for validation become your full-time job.

The Approach: Offer grounding clarity. Use “I” statements to share your reality without attacking theirs (e.g., “I see it differently…”). Avoid getting sucked into their whirlwind; stay anchored in what you know to be true.

The Approach: Detach and Observe. When someone is in a destructive phase, getting too close often leads to collateral damage. Observe from a distance, offer help only if they are ready to change, and prioritize your own stability first.

The Approach: Protect your peace. Ruthlessness isn’t something you “negotiate” with. Minimize your vulnerability, keep your interactions professional or brief, and don’t expect an apology that requires empathy they haven’t developed yet.