Charak Samhita is also accepted as the creation of Maharshi Patanjali. Basically, it is an Ayurvedic treatise but it contains profuse description of Yoga Darshan.

FORM OF YOGA :

Total control of the mind is Yoga. Hence, in complete reconciliation, one's mind unifies with the supreme soul and the practitioner achieves total control of his desires. Ayurveda generously accept the principles of Yoga.

As long as, the soul ha a contact with the mind and the sense organs, one feels sorrow and happiness. When, mind takes refuge in the soul, feelings of sorrow and happiness exist no longer. This annihilation of mind in the soul and through it in the supreme soul has been termed as Yoga. Thus, the mind and the soul remain in continuous contact. Only, at the time of salvation does the soul get free from the shackles of mind. When a soul deserts a body and finds a new one, it takes the elements of the previous body with it. Only a true Yogi can see this. Ordinary people can't even experience this transformation.

Mind is not as pervasive as the soul but appears so because of its fickle nature. The mind, sense organs and the soul have a deep inter-relation and this is the main reason why the soul experiences sorrow and joy. Ayurveda describes control of sense organs as the main means for freedom from diseases.

Wherever the mind goes, one feels the sorrow and joy. The mind has a presence in the whole body. Hence, the body experiences pains. The mind is not present in the head and body hairs and the tips of the nails. Hence, these organs do not feel pain. According to Ayurveda, the whole body including the mind is an abode of pains. In Yoga, when one attains salvation, all the pains are destroyed. Hence, Yoga is a means to achieve salvation as well. But, it is not salvation in itself.

STAGES OF THE MIND :

Maharshi Patanjali describes about five stages of the mind. These are- Murha,Kshipta, Vikshipta, Ekagra and Niruddha. Our mind continuously works on the inputs received as sound and sight and intelligence. In fact, the whole world is a manifestation of a human mind. All the great inventions and discoveries first took shape in the mind of a human being. In fact, human mind continuously changes its stage through Satva, Raja and Tama virtues. In these different stages, the mind has different characteristics. Ayurveda extensively describes about these stages of mind. This psychology had as much importance in the past as it has today.

SYMPTOMS OF THE MIND :

Having knowledge or not having it is the main characteristic of the mind. The mind gains knowledge through its continuous contact with the soul, the sense organs and the various objects that the sense organs perceive. Thus, it acts as a bridge in the process of gaining knowledge. Sense organs too are dictated by the mind to gain knowledge about the earthly objects.

WORK OF THE MIND:

Mind is itself senseless and unable to act on its own. Yet, because of having a contact with the soul, the mind is regarded as the centre of all the actions. Mind is highly fickle and motile and it constantly controls the body and the sense organs. Hence, human being never feels at peace.

Ayurveda describes the work of the mind as follows- gaining knowledge through contact with the sense organs, controlling the body and the sense organs, reflecting and contemplating, meditating etc. All the things start as a thought in the mind. Mind then stimulates the intelligence.

The body comes into action at the last. Mind's work has been described as of two kinds- Praakrit (natural) and Vikrit (unnatural). Praakrit work has constructive consequences whereas Vikrit work has destructive consequences. Feelings like Kama,(indulgence in pleasures), Krodh (anger), Ahankar (ego), Irshya (jealousy), Lobha (greed), Moha (affection), Bhaya (fear) and Chinta (anxiety) are the kinds of unnatural work and the cause of most of the mental disorders.

THE PATH TO SALVATION :

Maharshi Patanjali describes Yoga as the path to salvation. According to him, Yoga is nothing but total restraining of the motion of the mind. He has been preached Ashtang Yoga for the controlling of mind. The exponents of Ayurveda also instruct these same principles for the treatment of physical and mental diseases. Yama (restraints), Niyama (regulations), Aasana (postures), Pranayam (control of breath), Pratyahar (control of sense organs), Dhyan (meditation) and Samadhi (reconciliation) are the eight rungs of the ladder called Yoga.

Charak Samhita describes some simplest ways to achieve salvation. These include serving gentle people, deserting bad company, observing fast, following pious regulations, studying religious scriptures, liking for solitude, observing patience and unifying the mind with God. One's behaviour encompassing all these things automatically embraces the eight parts of Yoga.