INCREASE SATTVA

INCREASE SATTVA

 Mahanama despaired at his spiritual anguish and the distraught state of his mind. Buddha the enlightened and compassionate one analysed the pangs of his cousin and devotee’s problem and attributed it to the latter’s unfulfilled sexual desires and his struggle with sensuality. Lust and obsession, attachments and entanglements play havoc with the mental state of several humans  and correspondingly the levels of Sattva drop several notches.  These days apart from the availability of lurid literature, explicit material is readily available with the advancement of technology. These act a roadblock in the path of a layman or a seeker in the search of bliss or the truth.

Let us imagine or visualise an individual with a resplendent, radiant face, a bright pair of eyes, sporting a beatific smile, thick black mane, and in absolute harmony and sync with his self and nature.

The visualisation is probably akin to observing a rainbow in the sky, snow-capped mountain peaks, a shimmering light, incandescent lights after a rain fall, cascading waterfall, or perhaps a tranquil river or lake. Such evocative images impact the human mind or chitta in a positive manner which then gets enveloped with robust positive imagery. This adumbration conjures a positive disposition and increases the aura of the persona. Individuals possessing these unblemished qualities and such efficacious thought processes act as magnets to attract people.

Usually we associate such dynamic qualities with only elevated souls perhaps dressed in saffron or whites, who exude enormous serenity and calm and striking the right chord among fellow human beings.  Or say with advanced seekers in the pursuit of the eternal truth. Such souls are blessed with clairvoyance and a positive emanation.  It is not essential that only sages or spiritual masters possess these quintessential pristine qualities. An ordinary house dweller, a resolute homemaker, a bureaucrat, politician, student, teacher or any individual has the potential to enhance these characteristics and embark on a spiritual journey.

‘All actions of Sattva, a modification of Prakriti , characterised by light and happiness , is for the soul. When Sattva is free from egoism and illuminated with pure intelligence of Purusha , it is called the self-centred one because in that state it becomes independent of all relations’, said the emotionally evolved  saint Swami Vivekananda.

As per the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy, there are three Gunas, traits, or tendencies, which are present in humans and the creation. These are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

Sattva is associated with purity, intelligence, awareness, alertness, virtues, inherent goodness, harmony, balance, stability and equipoise.  The quality is to remain extremely light and not heavy on the mind.  This is the hallmark of the awakening of the soul and acts as a springboard of spiritual awakening.

Rajas denotes that energy which invariably causes imbalances. It represents change, constant activity, restlessness, passion, disequilibrium resulting in the fragmentation in the thought process of an individual.

Tamas is the attribute which reflects dullness, darkness, despondency, negativity, inertia, lack of awareness, decay, disintegration, insensitivity and long periods of sleep in the individual.

 The colour white is associated with purity and harmony and represents Sattva, while the colour red, is symbolic of excessive action and passion which is a metaphor of Rajas while on the other hand Tamas is delineated by the colour black, which also exemplifies darkness accompanied with disintegration.

Munindra Mishra author of Goals of Life writes, “All the variety species of life created be, by combination of three basic material energy; these Gunas modus operandi of material energy, they are called Tamo, Rajo, and Sattva clearly; Tamo-  Guna associated with inertia, ignorance be, the Rajo Gunna associated with passion, activity; Sattva- Guna associated with goodness, harmony, and all three of them associated with thinking truly.”

A Sattvik individual is centred and unwavering in his dealings. His mind does not waver nor engages in mental chatter. Such individuals are vigilant, adept in quick decision making and are circumspect by nature. But they are truly joyous and radiant and for them life is a celebration.

Persons with predominant Rajasik qualities are lustful, full of passion, constantly attached to an activity and get intertwined with various attachments and entanglements.

 Tamasik individuals exhibit emotions and actions of anger, disruption, pride, putrefaction   and ruination.

But it is well-nigh impossible for everyone in the universe to be of Sattvik disposition as the Gods like variety. They do not eat only Okra. If there is a Buddha, Mara would also be lurking in the corner.  The Kama Devata would be in the shadows to disturb Lord Shiva’s meditation.

However, it would be discernment on part of individuals to grow in Sattva and increase their levels of Sattva, than wait to do so in the winters of their lives. This is sagacious as humans can then harness their true potential, become wakeful, and develop the qualities of equilibrium, equanimity and equipoise in life. These characteristics distinguishes them from animals.

The Swadishtan Chakra entails and exhibits the qualities of both lust and creativity. We will gain by expanding our consciousness and focussing on the attributes of creativity than be merely lustful in nature. This will augment our Sattva.

The human mind is immensely impacted by the food we consume, company we keep, events which take place in our lives, places we visit among others.  We have to live with some Karma but can obliterate malefic effects of certain actions by practising certain holistic techniques.

To begin with, humans should concentrate on the food they consume. Occasional indulges apart, it is sagacious to partake vegetarian and Sattvik food. Vegetarian food is easily digestible and reduces craving and avarice in our minds. Breathing practices like Vipassana and Sudasrshan Kriya expatriate toxins from the body, makes it vibrant and thus oozes it with energy. Further be it a seeker or a neophyte it is always profitable to practice yoga, pranayama and meditation.  These practices bring the mind to the present moment and we become mindful and aware of our surroundings.

The human mind is cannonaded by innumerable thoughts and we make it even more miserable by clinging on to gizmos and becoming prisoners of technology. Apart from the constant mental chatter, we are subsumed by the internet, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, the list is endless. Our sacred space has been destroyed and occupied. To regain the space lost we need to refurbish our knowledge by upgrading our skills (this is one area where we need plenitude of technology), and reading inspirational religious and spiritual literature.

Literature of premium quality implant ideas which can germinate and flower into productive ideas.

Man is always known by the company he keeps. To increase and buttress our Sattva, prana or chi levels we should attend Satsangs, undertake selfless Seva .

By actively working on these areas humans can mitigate negative influences, ebb the Karmic bondage and uplift the level of Sattva.