By turning our minds outward, we use reason to distinguish or separate things of the world, one from another. By turning inward we can employ the higher function of reason to discriminate the real from the unreal. The most basic problem, at the root of the mind, is duality, or seeing the universe as separate from ourselves. Jnana Yoga emphasizes the right use of reason for the processes of inquiry and discrimination. As emotions can be a greater source of pain than physical pain, we must learn to distinguish between emotion and feeling.
Emotion is considered to be a disturbed state of mind.
If we have equanimity then the waves of emotion are minimized. Developing devotion and compassion help us transform the emotions. Bhakti Yoga , the devotional path of Yoga, utilizes such practices as prayer, worship, ritual and devotional chanting. Mantra and devotional chanting are a practical way of dealing with the emotional field. Through the use of mantra we can change the vibratory structure of the mind and bring it to a sattvic state from which meditation can be possible.