Vritti (Hinduism)

In Hindu psychology, vritti is a term given to what depth psychologists call the structures or constellations in the sub-conscious. Positively, these may include guiding, developmental archetypes; negatively, complexes; and neutrally, dispositions and tendencies that delineate the personality. In Buddhism, the equivalent concept to vritti is that of skandhas, or personality tendencies that transmigrate. The vritti then are energizings of a particular content. From their dynamics they are waves or vortices in the ground-stuff of the mind – alaya-vijnana or citta. Depending on their amplitude and direction they may obstruct higher consciousness.