There are 6 windows or philiosophy’s in Indian culture. One of these is Samkhya, on which the Yoga Sutra is based. According to samkhya philosophy, there are 3 constituents of the matter. Sattwa (purity, harmony, lucidity), Rajas (energy, passion), Tamas (inertia, darkness). All 3 form the mind. When Tamas predominates we are dull, distracted, obsessive & indulgent. When rajas is higher we are restless. When sattwa predominates one is cheerful, easily concentrated & clear. In such a state of mind one displays positive qualities of dharma or self discipline, jnana or knowledge which is wholesome & fulfilling, leading to wisdom. Vairagya or a relaxed objective view of life & aishwarya or a strong will.
Yoga is a self discipline where one tries to remain in the sattva state. A lot of factors affect the state of our mind. The key remains in our awareness of which state we are in at any moment. The simplest way to monitor our mind state is the way we feel. Our emotions are the signals which guide us. When we feel good feelings we are cheerful, excited, open, understanding, have a great attitude towards life & prone to act wisely. This is the result of sattwa pre dominance. One has a loving feeling for all living things.Take the flip side. When we feel bad its like the entire world is against us. Anger, lethargy, obsession, jealousy, self pity are all result of tamas & rajas being higher.
We can change from one state of mind to another through firm, decisive yet simple acts. Firstly, we need to be aware of how we feel. If any negative feeling is on, try to think of something great like listen to your favorite music, think of something you really love. A pleasant memory can refresh the mind or think of a cherished goal. Try what works for you & keep it handy.
Food affects our mood. Lethargy after a heavy meal indicates tamas dominance. When you have an empty stomach, you tend to snap & feel grouchy. Eating light meals every 3-4 hours are a great way to keep your mind in a happy state. Eat your favourite thing but in moderation. Chocolate is a classic case. A little bit can elevate you to a fantastic mindset yet indulgence can leave you slothy & feeling bad about yourself. Even a healthy meal if over eaten leads to tamasic state.
So, which state are you in right now – tamas, rajas, or sattwa? Cant figure it out – how do you feel now? That will guide you.
Having stated all the above, know that all rajas & tamas are important. Rajas makes us active, tamas makes us sleep – both important activities of our life. As everything in life, every mind state has a place in our life. The thing is to be aware & decide if the current mindset is in your best interest. If not, then its very much in your hands to change that!
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