Effect of the Sattva Guna on the Mind!

Out of the three Gunas, Sattva is the one which is the purest and the most harmonious - One that is the closest to being an ideal state of mind as well as health. This is a state of joy and balance between the body and the mind. Every Yogi who practices Yoga and who controls his diet or adopts the Ayurvedic way of life is capable of increasing the Sattva Guna in the body and the mind. A person can be called Sattvik if he/she has predominantly Sattvik tendencies instead of Rajasic or Tamasic.

Sattva Guna is a force which is favorable for attaining Moksha. An increase in Sattva means that there is a dwindling effect on Rajas and Tamas. This means that the mind becomes steadier as the disturbances due to Rajas and Tamas are reduced, and their influence becomes lesser. A mind which is Sattvik in nature doesn't need much to be happy - it can find happiness within.

• People who have a Sattvik mind are able to stay loyal in relationships and friendships for a long time.
• These are the people who don't need materialistic things to find delight in life - they are satisfied and content with whatever they have.
• They are not greedy, selfish or manipulative, do not pollute the minds of others or have evil intentions.
• They are also able to concentrate well on the tasks given to them, and work without expecting to gain from the end-result.
• Basically, these are the people who are just content with their lives, and have risen above materialism.

The ancient Ayurvedic texts also say that a Sattvik person has a spiritual and religious bent of mind. They might spend a lot of time praying or meditating and reading spiritual texts. A Sattvik person can be recognized if their mind, speech and actions are all in sync - Manasa, Vacha and Karmana are all synchronized.

A person who is primarily Sattvik in nature also does not have any bad habits like smoking, drinking alcohol or use of drugs. Their mind is steady, calm and peaceful and they make their own decisions - not under the influence of anyone or any substance.

The state of the mind when it is full of Sattva Guna or purity is known as Sattvapatti. This means that there is purity of thought - which is referred to as Bhava-Samsuddhi, as well as purity of the heart - which is known as Sattva-Samsuddhi. This is the fourth stage of Jnana.

So how is all this relevant in today's day and age? Well, the modern lifestyle has just so many pressures and demands, that it takes a toll on our physical and mental health. No matter how our life is, whether we are rich or poor, successful or unsuccessful - increasing the Sattvik qualities in our life will help balance the imbalances and bring our body into a state of equilibrium. Like a sick body can be nourished with good food, an unhealthy mind can be made healthy with Sattvik actions and thoughts.

In order to have a dominant Sattva Guna in the mind, one has to follow a Sattvik way of life as well as a Sattvik diet. Follow this series to know more about it!