SATTVA – Cultivating a Calm and Balanced Quality of the Mind
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So much of Ayurveda is about living in balance with nature – balancing our self within our environment – the time of day, seasons, and stage of life.
An important understanding of living in harmony requires the understanding of three universal qualities, or maha gunas, called sattva, rajas, and tamas. These qualities comprise everything in our physical nature and all energetic expressions within the universe. These three qualities also help us to understand the mental nature of the mind.
Tamas is the quality of heaviness, dullness, ambivalence – this is the force of attachment, and when in a chronic nature incurs disease.
Rajas is the quality of motion, friction, agitation, desire – this force initiates change of attention, but lacks stability.
Sattva is the quality of clarity, pure consciousness, balanced – this is the force of calm and illumination, light, love and life. Sattva is the observer.
These qualities are not separated as “good” and “bad.” All three forces are necessary in life and ever dynamic in interaction to give us experience. They always affect each other, and one might always lead to the other.
That said, when we feel “off” or “out of balance” in any way, we are wise to seek SATTVA.
Yoga and Ayurveda emphasize the development of sattva. This is considered the higher quality of the mind that allows growth and healing. It purifies the body and mind to our true nature. Sattvic people are loving, compassionate and pure minded. They have a positive attitude and behavior and do not anger or frustrate easily. They are fresh, alert, full of lister and have clear intelligence, happiness and joy. They don’t experience mental fatigue. Sattva imparts virtues of faith, honesty, self-control, modesty, and truthfulness.
When a person cultivates a sattvic mindset, performs sattvic activities, and consumes sattvic foods, they can make better decisions, and lead a regulated a happy life. The rest of this blog will outline some tips to do so.
Sattva Mind
Sattva in the mind can be increased from control of the senses and mantra.
Pratyahara – Control of the Senses
Pratyahara is the 4th limb on the 8-limb path of yoga. It is a precursor to successful meditation where one gains mastery over external influences. The topic of pratyahara could (and might!) be a topic for an entire future blog. So, for the purpose of brevity, I’ll encourage the aspect of “closing the senses” – sight, sound, smell and taste. Move attention away from outside perceptions and encourage attention to move within. That is to say, put down the cell phone, close your eyes, sit in a quiet room, let your mouth rest between meals without constant stimulation. Simmer in stillness for a brief period of time. You can read here for further discussion on pratyahara.
Mantra Meditation
A mantra is a syllable (“Om”), word (“peace”), or phrase (“I accept myself just as I am”) that is repeated during meditation. It is a powerful form of contemplation used by many wisdom traditions, including Christianity. It feeds the mind a positive impression and offers attention an anchor. Mantras engage our breath and vibration. Cynthia Bourgeault, a 20th and 21st century contemplative teacher, describes mantra “is what makes the difference between boredom and beauty. As you give yourself to the words you are chanting, their spiritual power comes alive in you.” Mantras can be spoken aloud, whispered, or simply thought in the mind. Mantras encourage mindfulness on the essence of the chosen word. You can read here for further discussion of mantra meditation.
Sattva Body
A sattvic body results from a sattvic lifestyle.
Go to bed early and rise early. Avoid night work, as this period of time is tamasic. The human body is not designed for nocturnal activities. Morning is full of sattvic energy and being awake during these hours, you will naturally absorb this positive energy. The time just before sunrise is considered especially potent.
Meditate daily. When we detach from our thoughts and desires and connect with the self, we experience awareness, tranquility, and happiness.
Move your body daily. Take a walk. Do yoga. Engage in gentle exercise daily (see #4 for a “two-fer”)
Be in nature! Forests and mountains evoke a sense of awe and calm. Natural settings have a deep positive effect on the mind. Spend time alone in nature and nourish the senses.
Regulate that which is addictive. Social media is rajasic. Living a fast-paced life is rajasic. Sex is rajasic. Intoxicants are tamasic. These activities create cycles of overstimulation and crashes that lead to exhaustion and discontent. Excessive use of any and all increases stress in life and leads to unclear intelligence, a restless mind, and poor health.
Keep your surrounding and your body clean. It’s thought that the state of your surroundings mirrors your inner state of mind. Tidy and clean your space regularly. Bathe regularly.
Study that which is inspirational. Maybe you read yoga philosophy. Maybe you study a religious text. Maybe you learn from an inspirational teacher. (Think Oprah, Deepak Chopra, whoever fills your cup!). Feed your mind with goodness and a clear point of view.
Surround yourself with others who also radiate sattva. Sattvic people are calm, positive, grateful, enthusiastic, honest, humble, balanced. They engage in work that contributes good in the world. There is a synergistic effect in being around like-minded others. It feels uplifting, and it reinforces our habits.
Sattva Food – The What, Why and How!
What?
Sattvic foods are balanced, clean, harmonious, easily digestible and pleasant to the stomach. They are rich in Prana (life force). These are foods that have been pulled from the earth recently. Sattvic foods calm the mind and sharpen the intellect. Also, eating seasonally allows for a building of balance for the upcoming season.
Why?
The following statement changed my mindset: Eating is different than nourishing. Eating is about accessibility, craving, maybe even emotionally based. Nourishing is about meeting the body’s requirements. Additionally, we can nourish the body through all of our sense organs – what feeds our eyes, ears, skin, smell.
How?
Consider a sattvic approach and routine to eating:
Eat meals at relatively the same time each day
Eat sitting and not engaged in other activities
Offer gratitude for what you are enjoying
Wanting to go deeper? Contact Kristen to begin your wellness journey!
