Points discussed in this episode:
Today, we’re exploring the power of choice for protecting your mind, as seen through the lens of Ayurveda—the ancient Indian system of medicine and wellness.
Ayurveda teaches us that our minds are influenced by the interplay of the three Gunas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Sattva represents purity, clarity, and harmony; Rajas embodies activity, passion, and restlessness; while Tamas signifies inertia, darkness, and stagnation.
Guna means quality, so three gunas means three qualities of material nature. Another translation that’s given for guna is rope, because of the strong binding nature of the gunas.
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get swept up in the chaos of daily life, allowing Rajas and Tamas to dominate our minds. But by making conscious choices aligned with Sattva, we can protect our minds and cultivate a sense of peace and balance.
The three Gunas and the interplay of influence and choice
How can we harness the power of choice to protect our minds from an Ayurvedic perspective?
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Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of nurturing Sattva—the Guna of purity and harmony. This involves making choices that promote mental clarity and emotional well-being. This could mean starting your day with a grounding meditation, choosing nourishing foods that support your body and mind, and surrounding yourself with positive influences.
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We need to be mindful of the impact of Rajas—the Guna of activity and restlessness. While some level of activity is necessary for growth and productivity, excessive busyness can lead to stress and burnout. By consciously choosing to slow down, prioritize self-care, and create moments of stillness in our day, we can protect our minds from the negative effects of Rajas.
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We must be vigilant against the influence of Tamas—the Guna of inertia and darkness. Tamas can manifest as laziness, apathy, and a lack of motivation. To counteract Tamas, we need to make choices that uplift and energize us. This could involve engaging in regular exercise, spending time in nature, and seeking out activities that inspire and invigorate us.
By making conscious choices aligned with Sattva, we can protect our minds from the imbalances caused by Rajas and Tamas. And every choice we make has the power to shape our mental landscape and cultivate greater peace, clarity, and well-being.
How the Three Gunas show in our mindset and habits
From Dr. David Frawley’s book – “Ayurveda and the Mind”
Sattva – Goodness
To have Sattva predominant in our nature is the key to health, creativity and spirituality. Sattvic people possess an harmonious and adaptable nature which gives the greatest freedom from disease both physical and mental. They are considerate of others and take care of themselves. They see all life as a learning experience and look for the good in all things, even in adversity which they strive to understand, not merely to suppress.
Rajas – Passion
Rajasic people have good energy but burn themselves out through excessive activity. Their minds are usually agitated and seldom at peace. They have strong opinions seek power over others often regardless of the means. They are impatient and inconsistent in dealing with their problems and do not wish to take the time or responsibility to get well. They blame others for their problems, including their therapists.
Rajasic people can accomplish their goals and are generally in control of their lives. However, they are not awake to their spiritual purpose, and are dominated by the ego in their pursuit of happiness. Life brings them shocks, which can cause them great suffering, particularly when they lose control. Even when they achieve their goals they find that they are still not happy.
Tamas – Ignorance
Tamasic types have deep-seated psychological blockages. Their energy and emotion tends to be stagnant and repressed and they do not know what their problems really are. They do not seek proper treatment and usually have poor hygiene or poor self-care habits. They accept their condition as fate and do not take advantage of the methods that may alleviate their problems. They allow other people and negative influences to dominate them and do not like to be responsible for their lives. They prefer not to deal with their problems or will not let others know about them, which only allows the problems to get worse.
The power of choice
The Gunas affect the mindset of the three dosha types in different ways: Sattva influences the most positive aspects of each balanced dosha, while tamas brings out the worst character traits of the doshas. Rajas emphasizes mental activity, it needs taming and lifting up to sattva for us to feel an happiness or peace.
Ayurveda teaches how we can have a healthy peaceful mind by making choices that bring us up to the mode of goodness. These choices come from all areas of our life: our diet, environment, interactions, the colors we wear and have in our homes. Our level of compassion, habits, mental self-care or lack of, the way we exercise. Everything we eat say and do can be categorized by the gunas. And once we know this, we have the opportunity to learn more about satvic eating, habits, etc to help life our mind to more peace and clarity.
