In Yoga, we often talk about Sankalpa, but we rarely address its shadow, Vikalpa. To understand one, we must courageously examine the other. The distance between where you are and where you wish to be is measured by which of these two forces is currently driving your mind.
Sankalpa is often translated as “intention,” but it is much deeper. It is a solemn vow; a focused, one-pointed determination that aligns the subconscious mind with the conscious will.
I often ask: Are we human at all if we cannot set an intention and follow it?
To be human is to have the capacity for Sankalpa. It is the “Yogic Will” that says, “This is who I am, and this is the path I shall walk.” It is the seed of manifestation that allows the best of our being to bloom.
If Sankalpa is the straight arrow, Vikalpa is the wind that blows it off course. In the Yoga Sutras, Vikalpa is identified as one of the vrittis (mental fluctuations) — specifically, “fancy” or “imagination” based on words that have no corresponding reality.
In a practical sense, Vikalpa is:
The Doubt: The “What ifs” that paralyze action.
The Distraction: The mental wandering that replaces solid intention with empty fantasy.
The Deviant: When we fail to hold our Sankalpa, the mind creates a Vikalpa — an alternative, easier, and often lower-vibrational path.
There is a dangerous progression in the human psyche. When we lack the discipline to maintain our Sankalpa, the mind doesn’t just sit still; it slides.
Sankalpa (Divine Intent) collapses into…
Vikalpa (Mental Distraction/Doubt), which leads to…
Vitarka (Deviant tendencies or degeneration).
This is how we move from being “Human” to “Sub-human.” When we abandon our higher intentions, we lose our grip on the Yamas and Niyamas — our Ahimsa falters, our Satya fades, and our Tapas (discipline) cools down.
We are all unique versions of the universe — our fingerprints and genomes prove it. However, the one thing we all share is the responsibility to choose between these two mental states.
Yoga is the process of strengthening the Sankalpa-Shakti (the power of will) so that Vikalpa no longer has the power to pull us down. We must live our yoga, not just speak it. We must manifest our intentions in thought, word, and deed.
As you move through your day, ask yourself: “Is this action born of my Sankalpa, or is it a Vikalpa leading me astray?”
May your Sankalpa be strong, may your “Josh” be high, and may we all grow and glow together in the light of Mother Yoga.
