Buddhi Yoga: Yoga of Intellect or Wisdom -ep11
Applying Wisdom over Impulse
Why are humans wired to make impulsive decisions?
🧬 Why are humans wired to make impulsive decisions?
Because of our evolutionary wiring. Here's how it breaks down:
1. Survival Instincts (The "Old Brain")
Our brains evolved to react quickly to danger:
Hear a rustle in the bushes? Run.
See food? Grab it.
Get hurt? Avoid it next time.
This helped our ancestors survive, but it also means we’re wired to favor short-term gain and instant gratification — not long-term wisdom.
2. The Emotional Brain (Limbic System)
This part of the brain processes:
Fear 😨
Pleasure 😊
Reward 🏆
Threats ⚠️
It’s fast, emotional, and not very rational. So we often:
Overeat 🍕
Procrastinate 😅
Snap at someone 😡
Buy something unnecessary 🛍️
Because the emotional brain reacts before the logical brain steps in.
3. The Rational Brain (Prefrontal Cortex)
This is the part responsible for:
Long-term planning
Impulse control
Moral judgment
Self-awareness
But it’s slower. And unless we train it (through self-reflection, meditation, or conscious pause), the emotional brain hijacks our behavior.
Why am I saying all this? Just for you to realize that we are driven by impulses and then try to justify the decisions.
Can you do anything better than impulsive reactions or making decisions?
Why not? You can. As I said earlier, for every walk of life Gita has something to offer as time tested solution. It is called Buddhi Yoga (or) The Yoga of the Intellect
Buddhi Yoga, as taught in the Bhagavad Gita, is the yoga of intellect or wisdom — the disciplined use of reason and discrimination to align oneself with divine purpose and attain liberation (moksha). It’s not merely intellectual thinking, but a deep, intuitive understanding guided by devotion and detachment.
Here’s a breakdown of Buddhi Yoga in the Gita:
🔹 What is Buddhi Yoga?
Buddhi = Intellect
Yoga = Union or discipline
Buddhi Yoga = Using one’s intellect to stay steadily connected to the Divine, through discriminating action and inner clarity.
🔹 Key Aspects from the Gita
Discrimination Between Right and Wrong (Viveka):
Acting with discernment — choosing the path of righteousness over personal gain or emotion. Krishna advises Arjuna to act without attachment to outcomes.Detachment from Results (Nishkama Karma):
In Chapter 2, Verse 49:
“Far lower than the yoga of wisdom is action for fruit. Seek refuge in wisdom; pitiable are those who crave for the fruits.”
(Here, wisdom = Buddhi)
Selfless Action:
Perform duty with awareness, but offer the fruits of actions to God.Inner Clarity & Equanimity:
Being steady-minded in success and failure. That inner stability is a hallmark of Buddhi Yoga.
The practice of engaging in one’s duties with clarity, devotion, detachment, and inner wisdom — using the intellect as a tool for spiritual realization.
Enough of philosophy, is what you are saying? I would think so too. Let us look at a couple of real-life situations and how the application of Buddhi Yoga helps.
🪶 Metaphor: The Charioteer and the Horses
Imagine your life is a chariot:
The chariot = your body
The horses = your senses and desires
The reins = your mind
The charioteer = your buddhi (intellect)
The passenger = your true self (the atman)
👉 If the horses run wild and the reins are loose, the chariot crashes.
👉 But if the charioteer holds the reins steadily, the journey is smooth.
Buddhi Yoga is about training the charioteer — your intellect — to guide your life toward the highest goal, not based on impulse or ego, but with wisdom and clarity.
🛕 Story from the Gita: Krishna and Arjuna
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is overwhelmed — his mind is clouded by emotions, attachments, and fear. He wants to walk away from his duty as a warrior.
Krishna, who is his charioteer, doesn't just tell Arjuna to fight — He teaches him Buddhi Yoga:
“Act, Arjuna, but do not crave the results. Use your inner wisdom to know what is right, and do it as an offering — not for ego, not for reward.”
By the end, Arjuna’s confusion clears. His intellect becomes steady, and he says:
“My delusion is gone. I am now firm, guided by your teachings. I will act.”
(Gita 18.73)
That’s Buddhi Yoga in action: clarity, detachment, and devoted, wise action.
🔑 Core Qualities of the Yoga of the Intellect
Discrimination (Viveka):
Knowing right from wrong, real from unreal, essential from nonessential.Detachment (Vairagya):
Not getting emotionally tangled in the outcomes of your actions.Purposeful Action (Dharma):
Doing your duty sincerely, not lazily or out of selfishness.Equanimity (Samatvam):
Staying calm in success or failure — not tossed around by life.Union with the Divine (Yoga):
Your intellect becomes a channel to connect with your higher self or God.
Here is a real-life example that will help you understand Yoga of the Intellect and how it is applied
🧑⚖️ Example: Making a Career Decision
Let’s say you're offered a high-paying job, but something about it feels off:
The role demands long hours, compromising your health and family time.
The company’s values don’t align with yours.
Your heart is drawn to another, lower-paying opportunity that aligns with your passion and values.
🤯 The Mind Says:
“Take the high-paying job! Think of the money, status, and what others will think.”
❤️ The Emotions Say:
“I'm anxious. What if I regret my decision? What if I fail?”
🧠 The Intellect (Buddhi) Says:
“Money is important, but I value balance, meaning, and health more. The other job aligns with who I am and what I want to grow into.”
If you act based on buddhi, you choose with clarity, purpose, and inner alignment, not out of fear, greed, or social pressure.
⚖️ That’s Buddhi Yoga in Action:
✅ Discriminating between what seems good and what is truly right
✅ Letting go of attachment to results (status, approval)
✅ Acting from a place of stillness and alignment
Even if the outer rewards are uncertain, you are at peace with your decision — because your action is rooted in wisdom, not reaction.