Kundalini Yoga Glossary
Negative Mind
The protective, reactive mind that scans for danger and asks: how will this harm me?
Meaning
What Negative Mind Means
The Negative Mind is one of the three functional minds in Kundalini Yoga philosophy, alongside the Positive Mind and the Neutral Mind. It is reactive and protective: the fastest of the three minds, the first to respond to any thought, sensitive to pain and oriented entirely around survival. It asks how will this harm me, and what am I going to lose.
As the Second Body in the system of the Ten Bodies, the Negative Mind is associated with Guru Angad and carries the themes of containment and obedience. It gives form and discernment to the Soul Body, and instills a longing to belong that, at its best, drives a deep connection to one's own inner guidance.
In Practice
How It’s Used
Every thought is said to pass through the filter of the Negative, Positive and Neutral minds, and the balance among the three differs from person to person. The Negative Mind is balanced through Yamas and Niyamas, the ethical restraints and disciplines among Patanjali's Eight Limbs.
A specific meditation is used to balance the Negative Mind: seated with the spine elongated, hands cupped together at the heart center, breathing in a long steady inhale through the nose and a focused stream out through rounded lips, for 11 to 31 minutes. It clears the subconscious of unwanted negative or fearful thought, so the Negative Mind can give clear signals to protect rather than constant, undirected alarm.
