When the Mind Runs, Stress Follows – A Yogic Perspective
“When the Mind Runs, Stress Follows – A Yogic Perspective”
Everyday life presents us with countless situations — some regular, some challenging. We find ourselves compelled to respond: sometimes by solving the issue, sometimes by countering it, and sometimes by trying to escape it altogether.
These situations may be as simple as replying to a text message or as complex as resolving conflicts in relationships. They could involve small daily tasks like grocery shopping or major decisions such as property hunting. From posting something on social media to managing high-pressure office projects, the range, intensity, and familiarity of situations differ from person to person. But what remains constant in all cases is our response.
Stress, by definition, is our response to a demanding situation. This response may be a natural tendency to fight through the situation or to flee from it. Either way, human beings are programmed to deal with demands placed upon them.
In today’s fast-paced world, we face multiple stimuli at once — creating extreme demands on physical, mental, emotional, and social levels. This constant stimulation leads to the rise of a hyper-functioning personality, where stress and speed become the “new normal.”
But enduring such an environment takes a heavy toll. Over time, it leads to psychosomatic ailments such as:
- High blood pressure & heart disease
- Anxiety, depression, and mood swings
- Digestive disorders
- Diabetes & obesity
- Arthritis & other inflammatory issues
- Neurological disorders
All of these are the body’s way of expressing the burden of chronic stress.
This is where Yoga steps in as a science of lifestyle management. Unlike quick fixes, Yoga does not treat stress as an external enemy — it teaches us to understand stress at its root. Yogic scriptures describe stress as “the speed of the mind.”
By slowing down the restless movements of the mind and cultivating steadiness, Yoga helps us regain balance, clarity, and health. Through breath regulation, mindful movement, meditation, and philosophical understanding, Yoga offers not just relief from stress, but a complete reorientation of life.
Let’s explore this deeper, and see how the wisdom of Yoga can transform the way we respond to life’s challenges.
योगवासिष्ठ
Yoga Vāsiṣṭha
The text repeatedly says that the agitated, restless, fast-moving mind creates bondage and sorrow, whereas the still mind is liberation.
योगवासिष्ठ, निर्वाण प्रकरणम्, उत्तरार्धः, ५.५३
Verse (Sanskrit):
मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः ।
बन्धाय विषयासक्तं मुक्त्यै निर्विषयं स्मृतम् ॥
Transliteration:
mana eva manuṣyāṇāṁ kāraṇaṁ bandhamokṣayoḥ ।
bandhāya viṣayāsaktaṁ muktyai nirviṣayaṁ smṛtam ॥
Meaning:
The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation.
When attached to sense-objects, it leads to bondage.
When free from sense-objects, it is said to bring liberation.
पतञ्जलि योगसूत्र १.२
Patanjali Yoga Sūtra
योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥२॥
Yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ (1.2) – Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.
The “fluctuations” (vṛttis) are like waves moving at speed, causing restlessness and suffering.
A speedy, rajasic mind produces duḥkha (stress, dissatisfaction).
भगवद्गीता
Bhagavad Gītā
चञ्चलं हि मन: कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् |
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् || 34||
Transliteration:
chañchalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛiṣhṇa pramāthi balavad dṛiḍham
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva su-duṣhkaram
Krishna answers that through abhyāsa (practice) and vairāgya (detachment), the speeding mind can be stilled.
The mind is very restless, turbulent, strong and obstinate, O Krishna. It appears to me that it is more difficult to control than the wind.
हठयोगप्रदीपिका
Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā
चले वाते चलं चित्तं निश्चले निश्चलं भवेत् ।
योगी स्थाणुत्वमाप्नोति ततो वायुं निरोधयेत् ॥२.२॥
Transliteration:
cale vāte calaṁ cittaṁ niścale niścalaṁ bhavet ।
yogī sthāṇutvam āpnoti tato vāyuṁ nirodhayet ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
When the breath (vāyu) moves, the mind (citta) also moves.
When the breath becomes steady, the mind too becomes steady.
Thus, the yogi attains steadiness, therefore one should control the breath.
The restless mind, moving too fast, is controlled by prāṇāyāma and meditation.
मांडुक्य कारीका
Mandukya Kārikā (Gaudapāda)
Māṇḍūkya Kārikā, 3.31
Sanskrit (Devanāgarī):
यदा न स्पन्दते चित्तं किञ्चिद्विषयगोचरम् ।
तदा निर्वासनं ज्ञेयं प्राज्ञं तद्वदवस्थितम् ॥ ३.३१ ॥
Transliteration:
yadā na spandate cittaṁ kiñcid viṣayagocaram ।
tadā nirvāsanaṁ jñeyaṁ prājñaṁ tadvad avasthitam ॥ 3.31 ॥
Meaning:
When the mind does not move (spandate) toward any object of sense, Then it is said to be free of latent impressions (vāsanā).
In that stillness, it abides in the state of Pure Awareness (prajña).
So here, “spandana/movement of the mind” = illusion, stress, and bondage.
When the mind becomes motionless, it rests in the Self, beyond illusion.
Though no scripture literally says “Stress is the speed of the mind”, this interpretation comes from combining these teachings:
Restless, fast-moving mind = duḥkha/stress.
Calm, slow, still mind = sukha/peace/liberation.