Parinama is a Sanskrit word that means change, transformation, or evolution. In Yoga philosophy, especially in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Parinama describes how everything in life is always changing. Nothing stays the same forever—not our body, our thoughts, our emotions, or even the world around us. Everything keeps moving and shifting, moment by moment.
Parinama teaches us to understand this change, accept it, and grow with it instead of fighting against it. When we accept change calmly, our mind becomes stronger and clearer. When we resist change, our mind becomes stressed and confused.
This idea is very important in Yoga because Yoga is all about transforming the mind and leading it toward peace. Without change, transformation cannot happen. So Parinama is at the heart of Yoga practice.
Why Parinama Matters
Every person wants to grow in life. We want to be better, happier, healthier, and more peaceful. But growth happens only through change. If everything stayed the same, nothing new would come into our lives.
Parinama reminds us of three important truths:
1. Change is natural
Everything in nature changes. Day becomes night, seasons shift, children grow into adults, and emotions rise and fall. We are part of nature, so we also keep changing.
2. Change brings learning
When something changes in life, we learn something new. Challenges teach us strength. Success teaches us gratitude. Failure teaches us patience. Every change has a lesson.
3. Change helps us reach peace
Yoga teaches that inner peace comes when we accept reality as it is. When we accept that nothing is permanent, we stop holding on too tightly. This reduces fear, anxiety, and stress.
Types of Parinama
In Yoga philosophy, Parinama is not one single type of change. Patanjali describes three major types of Parinama:
1. Dharma Parinama – Change in Form
This type of change is about how something looks or behaves at a certain moment. For example:
- A seed becomes a plant
- A child grows into an adult
- A thought turns into a plan
Dharma Parinama tells us that everything has a form, and that form keeps changing.
2. Lakshana Parinama – Change Over Time
This type of change happens slowly and gradually. It takes time to see it. For example:
- Learning a skill day by day
- Improving flexibility with regular yoga
- Healing from emotional pain over months
Lakshana Parinama shows that time plays a big role in transformation.
3. Avastha Parinama – Change in Condition
This change is temporary and based on the current state of something. For example:
- Feeling happy in the morning and tired at night
- A hot cup of tea turning cold
- Calm mind becoming stressed and becoming calm again
Avastha Parinama reminds us that conditions keep shifting, so we should not get too attached to any single state.
Parinama in the Mind
One of the most important teachings of Yoga is that the mind is always changing. Thoughts come and go. Feelings rise and fall. Our mood, energy, and focus change throughout the day.
Yoga says that if we observe these changes without reacting too much, we will develop a calm mind.
For example:
- When we feel sad, we know this feeling will also change.
- When we feel angry, we know anger will not stay forever.
- When we feel joy, we enjoy it without fearing its end.
Understanding Parinama helps us stay balanced. We stop fighting our emotions. We allow them to pass naturally.
Parinama in the Body
Our body also goes through constant change. Every breath, every heartbeat, and every movement reflects transformation.
Yoga uses this idea to help us:
- Grow stronger
- Improve flexibility
- Build better posture
- Remove stress
- Boost energy
Even the smallest stretch in yoga shows Parinama. At first, a pose might be difficult, but with time, the body changes and adjusts.
The body is never fixed. It responds to how we treat it. Regular practice brings positive change, while stress or unhealthy habits bring negative change.
Positive and Negative Parinama
Parinama can be positive or negative, depending on our actions.
Positive Parinama happens when we make healthy choices:
- Practicing yoga daily
- Thinking positive thoughts
- Eating healthy food
- Sleeping well
- Staying patient and kind
These choices create strong and positive changes in the mind and body.
Negative Parinama happens when we harm ourselves:
- Overthinking or worrying
- Eating unhealthy food
- Living with anger or hate
- Staying inactive
- Sleeping too late
These habits create stress, weakness, and imbalance over time.
Yoga encourages us to understand both kinds of change so we can choose wisely.
Parinama and Spiritual Growth
In Yoga, the biggest transformation happens inside the inner self. Parinama helps us move from:
- confusion to clarity
- stress to peace
- fear to confidence
- ego to humility
- distraction to focus
The more we practice mindfulness, meditation, and self-awareness, the more we evolve.
Yoga teaches that spiritual growth is not sudden. It happens slowly, step by step, through continuous Parinama.
Just as a river shapes rocks over years, inner change shapes our mind and character over time.
Parinama and Suffering
Patanjali explains a deep idea called Parinama Dukha, which means “the pain of change.”
This pain comes because:
- We want things to stay the same, but they don’t.
- We expect life to always go our way.
- We hold onto people, objects, or memories.
When things change, we feel hurt or afraid. But Yoga teaches us that this pain reduces when we accept reality.
Freedom comes when we stop resisting change.
How to Practice Parinama in Daily Life
Here are simple ways to apply Parinama in life:
1. Accept things as they are
Don’t fight change. Instead, understand it and grow with it.
2. Practice patience
Big changes need time. Be patient with yourself and others.
3. Observe your thoughts
Watch your mind without judging it. Your thoughts will keep changing.
4. Stay flexible
A flexible mind can handle any situation.
5. Keep learning
Every change teaches something. Stay open to learning.
6. Let go of fear
Fear comes when we cling to things. Letting go brings peace.
The Beauty of Parinama
Parinama shows us that life is full of possibilities. Every moment brings a chance to grow. Every challenge brings a lesson. Every ending creates a new beginning.
Nothing is stuck or permanent. Even the hardest situation can change. Even the smallest effort can create a powerful transformation.
When we understand Parinama, we become calmer, wiser, and more confident. We stop fearing the future and start trusting the process of life.
Conclusion
Parinama is the heart of Yoga philosophy. It teaches that everything in the world—our body, mind, emotions, and experiences—keeps changing. This constant change is not something to fear. It is a natural part of life and the key to growth.
When we accept change, our mind becomes peaceful. When we understand change, our life becomes balanced. And when we use change wisely, we grow into a better version of ourselves.
Parinama reminds us:
Nothing stays the same, but everything can improve.
Sources:
Yogapedia. (2023, December 21). Parinama. Yogapedia.
Welcome to PariNama, your place for transformation. (n.d.). PariNama, Kingston.
Approaches to parinama: sorrow, sequence, community, and silence. (n.d.). Issuu.
