The Mind & "The False Self-Identity"

AUM

AUM is a sacred syllable that is considered to be the greatest of all the mantra (sacred utterance). The syllable AUM is composed of the three sounds A-U-M (in Sanskrit, the vowels A and U coalesce to become O), which represent several universal triads. Thus, AUM mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. It is uttered at the beginning and end of prayers, chants, and meditation.

AUM should be vocalized as A-U-M, and not OM.

Buddhi

Buddhi is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit root Budh, which literally means "to wake, be awake, observe, heed, attend, learn, become aware of, to know, be conscious again".

Buddhi refers to our "wisdom mind" - the intellectual faculty and the power to "form and retain concepts, reason, discern, judge, comprehend & understand".

The purpose of Yoga is to train our Buddhi to help us make the right choice as it is our inner wisdom.

Manas

Manas refers to our "thinking mind" - the general thinking faculty, the conscious thinking via volition. It is the Manas that manifests intentions into thoughts, speech and actions.

The purpose of Yoga is to ensure that what we manifest in thought, speech & action are true & aligned with our true self.

Citta

The Citta refers to our "emotional mind" - your likes & dislikes, agitation & phobia etc. It is our Citta that reacts to emotional triggers.

An untrained Citta is why your attention jumps from one object to another. Without a specified object to focus on, the Citta is restless and unstable, fluctuating like a waveform, arising and falling. The purpose of Yoga is to tame this "monkey mind", and achieve a state of equanimity.

Ahamkara

In Yoga, Ahamkara is often translated as "ego" or "ego-consciousness", but it is actually more than that. It is the fabricated "false identity", consisting of personal pride, opinions from people around you, societal expectations, status in society, position at work etc.

And because of all these factors, you are enslaved to your "false-identity".

The purpose of Yoga is to dissolve this false sense of "self-identity".