Wise Mind and the Three States of Mind

As we get ready to begin teaching a new cycle of Wise Mind, I thought this would be a good time to pause and write this reflection on Core Mindfulness 1: The States of Mind. In our first group session, we orient patients to the structure of the group, including guidelines that maintain its integrity, the theoretical framework of DBT, the assumptions we agree to consider, mindfulness as a skill, and ways to practice Wise Mind in our daily lives.

In a nutshell, Wise Mind is a core component of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), created by Marsha Linehan. It is both the name of the life skills taught in groups and the state of mind we aim to access by self-regulating and finding the middle path between Emotion Mind and Reasonable Mind. We need both states of mind. If we did not have Emotion Mind, we would simply not survive. Our emotions communicate essential information for survival. They move us to action. If we did not feel fear, we would not distinguish danger. If we did not feel anger, we would not recognize our boundaries or defend ourselves. If we did not feel guilt, we would not feel the urge to repair and seek harmony. Likewise, we would not appreciate poetry, a sunset, or the intimacy of connection. Emotion Mind is not bad or dangerous, as many of us have learned to believe. On the contrary, it is necessary and part of our survival. Emotion Mind becomes problematic when it is out of balance and begins to run the show. When that happens, our nervous system becomes dysregulated. It begins to treat assumptions, worst-case scenarios, and imagined abandonments or betrayals as facts. But more often than we may think, these are interpretations rather than objective facts. That is when we can spiral into emotional overwhelm and feel there is no way out.

Reasonable Mind, on the other hand, is the state in which emotions are not necessarily taken into account. It is the state of facts and reason. When balanced, it keeps us grounded in reality. Think of a judge. Ideally, and legally, a judge must make rulings based on facts rather than subjective interpretations or personal feelings. Our Reasonable Mind is like that judge. When regulated, it is helpful. When rigid or out of balance, however, it can interfere with relationships and our ability to enjoy life. For example, let’s say I felt upset after an argument with my husband and decided to go window shopping to distract myself. I see a pair of shoes I love and try them on. My Emotion Mind says, “You deserve these. Buy them now.” My Reasonable Mind says, “You already have two pairs in that color. You have spent more than you budgeted this month. Remember your financial goals.” Who do I listen to? My Emotion Mind was louder, but I knew I was upset. That awareness allowed Wise Mind to come into play. Wise Mind is the intersection of Emotion Mind and Reasonable Mind. It does not silence either one. It integrates both. My Wise Mind solution was, “I will think about it. If I still want them later, I can return. If they are gone, I will be okay.” That was Wise Mind in action, not Emotion Mind alone and not Reasonable Mind alone, but the middle path. Can you think of a time when your Emotion Mind and Reasonable Mind were at odds with each other and how your Wise Mind guided you?

If I had listened only to Reasonable Mind, it might have sounded like this: “You cannot buy the shoes. Do not even think about it. Walk away.” There would have been no curiosity and no room to consider how I felt.

Wise Mind does not come to the rescue the way Superman or Wonder Woman might in our fantasies. Although it can sometimes feel dramatic or relieving, Wise Mind is quieter and more subtle. The truth is that Wise Mind is always present within us. We can access it when we quiet ourselves enough to listen.

Marsha Linehan teaches that Wise Mind is the inner wisdom each person possesses. She writes that “inner wisdom includes the ability to identify and use skillful means for attaining valued ends.” She also describes it as “the ability to access and then apply knowledge, experience, and common sense to the situation at hand.” Like many teachers across traditions, she reminds us that we all have the capacity for wisdom.

Sakshi, Viveka, and Kaushalam

When I reflect on Wise Mind, I am reminded of three teachings from Vedanta: Sakshi, Viveka, and Kaushalam. At first glance, they may seem identical to Wise Mind. In fact, that is what I initially thought. Over time, I realized that while they deeply resonate, they are not the same. Sakshi is the Witness, the ever-present awareness that observes all mental states. It is the steady presence within us, even when we feel disconnected from clarity. In Vedanta, Sakshi is sometimes described as the Inner Self. For the purpose of this reflection, I refer to Sakshi as the silent observer of thoughts and emotions, including Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, and Wise Mind. Wise Mind, however, does more than observe. It allows us to access the middle path and respond skillfully. While Sakshi witnesses, Wise Mind integrates and guides action. We could say that Sakshi is awareness, and Wise Mind is awareness expressed through discernment in action. This naturally leads us to Viveka and Kaushalam.

Viveka means discernment. In her book Sovereign Self, Acharya Shunya teaches that Viveka involves moment-by-moment deliberation before acting or reacting. Discernment includes examining the contents of our minds, such as thoughts, beliefs, assumptions, biases, judgments, motivations, and desires. Similarly, DBT invites us to pause and examine whether we are in Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, or Wise Mind before reacting. In this way, Viveka is what makes Wise Mind accessible. Without discernment, we cannot reliably reach Wise Mind.

I would like to pause here and invite you and your Wise Mind to practice Viveka and Kaushalam. This is not a religious invocation, but a universal invitation to act with intention, strategy, and alignment.

Kaushalam. What a beautiful word, and what a beautiful way to integrate the skills we cultivate through Wise Mind. In her ongoing Karma Yoga classes offered through the Vedic Study Circle, Acharya Shunya describes Kaushalam as skillful, strategic action guided by discernment. Rather than reacting from emotional intensity or withdrawing into avoidance, we are invited to act from an integrated clarity that aligns our intentions, our behaviors, and our inner truth.Just as Marsha Linehan invites us to be skillful, Kaushalam invites us to be strategic in our skillfulness. It is not merely reacting well, but acting with foresight and strategy, grounded in discernment, aligned with our values, and guided by self-respect through the FAST skills. Kaushalam reminds us that Wise Mind is not passive awareness, but deliberate and sacred strategy in action.

In writing these reflections, I was reminded that Wise Mind is not something we achieve once and for all, but something we return to again and again through awareness, discernment, and intentional action. When Sakshi witnesses, Viveka discerns, and Kaushalam guides action, Wise Mind becomes more than a skill. It becomes a way of living.

Author’s Note

As a DBT-informed psychotherapist and Wise Mind skills teacher, I share these reflections at the intersection of psychological practice and contemplative inquiry. They are offered in a spirit of humility and respect for the wisdom traditions that inform my work. These reflections are educational in nature and are not a substitute for therapy or clinical care.

References

Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Shunya, A. (2022). Sovereign Self: Claim Your Inner Joy and Freedom Through the Vedas. Sounds True.

Shunya, A. (2024–present). Karma Yoga teachings. Vedika Global, Vedic Study Circle.

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