“Human nature is not a machine to be built after a model, and set to do exactly the work prescribed for it, but a tree, which requires to grow and develop itself on all sides, according to the tendency of the inward forces which make it a living thing.”
According to the Samkhya philosophy, this whole universe is made of two realities; purusha and prakriti. Purusha (soul, consciousness), “Purusha is the principle of pure consciousness, while Prakriti is the principle of matter” Prakriti refers to ” Nature, the material world, matter, physical and psychological character, constitution, temper, disposition”
Nature is made up of triple qualities of sattva- the light, rajas-the attachment, and tamas-the darkness. The mind is enveloped by the three veils known as Tamasic, Rajasic and Sattvic. Tamasic veils causes lethargy, laziness, ignorance, impure thoughts, depression, helplessness etc. Rajasic veils makes one egotistic, insincere, lustful, greedy, restlessness, jealous etc. the characteristic of sattva guna are peace, friendliness, unity, balance of mind, devotion, self-control, truth, faith etc.
Dharma is described as a duty. On a deeper level, it quote to one’s conduct and action that is in accordance with the divine law and your inner truth. Your Dharma is a fusion of your social circumstances, the behavior expected of you and your real life purpose. Adharma is referred as everything which is against nature and unethical, unprincipled, wrong or unlawful. While Dharma preserves society and life in general and is done with the humanitarian purpose of benefit to others and self, Adharma usually causes adversity, pain, and suffering and originates from selfish causes.
Sattvic comes from ‘Satya’ meaning truth. Ability to discriminate between dharma and Adharma paths of action or resulting actions, and the strength to choose the dharma path no matter despite violent or though challenging or anyhow peaceful or yet lonely it is and following it to the message despite heavy and gut wrenching opposition, is the Sattvic guna. sattvic is that trait that chooses righteousness between righteousness and peace, in deciding courses of action, and uses that guiding principle in every act. Sattvic means ‘strength of mind /heart’. sattvic does not mean peaceful, non-reacting, or non-violent qualities. Sattvic does not mean the trait that chooses peace instead of the violence in deciding courses of action. That trait is cowardice perhaps, but not Sattvic. You need sincere strength of mind /heart to do the right thing (dharma), to be Sattvic. If you have such strength of mind/heart to do the right thing (dharma), then good for you, you can be Sattvic.
If you do the same above, and have strength of mind /heart to do the right thing (dharmic) but end up mistreating it to do what your senses(Lustful, anger, greedy, egotistic, etc.) Sometimes want you to, then you have Rajasic traits, and if you have no strength of mind /heart and end up doing whatever your senses (impure thoughts, ignorance, laziness, etc.) tell you to do instead of what dharma tells you to do, then you are a Tamasic guna person.
It is therefore necessary to cultivate Sattvic qualities to surpass the ostensible covering to reach the self. Very few people are purely Sattvic all the time. We waver between these three gunas. We may have one that predominates. It is really advantageous to be aware of the gunas in your day-to-day life. In what you eat, the company you keep, the environments you spend time in, the work you do and the thoughts that fill your mind.
To bring out hidden truth to know your inner self-soul, spiritual disciplines are needed, self-inquiry, austerity, devotion, love, charity, authentic living, Attending a yoga class, having a regular sadhana, meditation, spiritual attendance, spiritual practices, helps immensely to retain a calm, harmonious quality of life. As does a healthy diet, a clean, happy home, positive thoughts and inspiring company etc. , are all great techniques for developing a Sattvic mind and heart, will enable an earnest seeker to arrive home. One who realizes the truth the oneness of the self within and without he is liberated free from the cycle of birth and death and lives the eternal life of immortality.
See God in all, Love all alike, every soul is essentially divine, life is eternal.
“There is something in the human spirit that will survive and prevail, there is a tiny and brilliant light burning in the heart of man that will not go out no matter how dark the world becomes.”