The capacity to discriminate, reason, judge, and make decisions. It evaluates inputs from manas and chooses a response.

Cognitive Science Correlates: Executive function / decision-making / Analytical reasoning /Cognitive control & inhibition

The function that identifies the pure “I” (aham) with thoughts, roles, body, emotions — forming the personal identity and ego. It says “I am this.” and "I do".

Cognitive Science Correlates: Narrative self / autobiographical identity, Self-concept and ego structure, Ego-identification / default mode network (DMN) activity

Vṛttis are mental waves — thoughts, emotions, memories, and perceptions constantly rising and falling. Cognitive events (thoughts, perceptions, emotions) / contents of working memory.

Manas is the part of the mind that collects sensory data and handles attention — like a gatekeeper deciding what to focus on. Working memory / attention / sensory integration.

Citta is the overall field of mind-stuff: it stores memories, habits, and deeper patterns.  Long-term memory / unconscious processing.

If the mind were a lake, vṛttis are the ripples, manas is the surface movement reacting to wind, and citta is the deep water reflecting everything.

Definition: The bare, pre-reflective sense of being a subject — “I am.” Not yet identifying with roles or narratives .

Cognitive Science Correlates: Minimal self / self-referential consciousness, First-person perspective, Sense of agency