Effect of the Rajas Guna on the Mind!

We have already told you about the three Gunas of the nature which impact the human mind as well - First is Sattva, the second is Rajas and the third is Tamas. In our previous post, we spoke about the Sattva Guna. Now let's know more about the Rajas Guna.

We need movement in nearly every sphere of life, and all movement and activities are influenced by Rajas. That is the reason why excessive Rajas brings with it hyperactivity and restlessness. This means that a mind that has too much Rajas or is predominantly Rajasic, is never resting - it is anxious, fearful and agitated.

• When Rajas is aggravated or is much more than Sattva in the mind, it means that the person will be competitive, will be too egoistic or have too much pride.
• Such people can be very aggressive and have temper issues as well.
• Selfish and jealous, Rajasic people crave power and success, but in the wrong sense.
• These are the people who will go to any lengths to get what they want - whether through good means or bad, as long as it gets them what they desire.

A Rajasic mind is very impulsive, which means that these people might make impulsive decisions or take impulsive actions, which they might regret later. This can lead to a lot of tension and even disrupt the mind. Rajasic people are stubborn - they think what they do is right, and are usually not very understanding. Not only do they hold their beliefs very strongly, but also tend to try and sway others in their direction. That is why it is said that fanatics come under this category as they have an aggravated Rajas Guna.

Rajasic people also tend to be very materialistic. A change time and again, is what a mind like this craves. These are also people who cannot stay happy on their own - they need others around and materialistic things to make themselves feel satisfied in life. But the problem is that a Rajasic mind does not get satisfied with anything, it wants more and more and gets bored with people and acquisitions very soon. That is the reason why these people find it hard to maintain long and loyal friendships and relationships. These are the people who just cannot forgive and forget when it comes down to it, as they are very good at holding a grudge. So not only does the Rajas Guna cause problems between people, but it leads to hatred and a disturbed mind as well.

So what leads to excessive Rajas? Well, over-exercising and exerting ourselves too much is a Rajasic quality. Thinking too much, or talking too much, or even exposing ourselves to anything violent that disturbs the mind - all these are things that increase Rajas in our minds.

But we cannot do without Rajas Guna also. It is required to get things done. A mind that has an imbalance of the Gunas and is dominated by Rajas is not ideal, but the quality is still needed to have some sort of determination and ambition in life. When you set a goal, you need to have balanced Rajas to make sure you go through with it. But balancing the Gunas is the key to making sure that you don't fall prey to excessive Rajas.

Just like Sattva, Rajas can also be increased or decreased through dietary and lifestyle changes. To know how to do that, follow this series!