The constitution of a human being (Summary) ¬ Aman Nityananda

 The constitution of a human being (Summary)

 Man is a multidimensional being and has two distinct natures. The apparent self which consists of the body, vital energy (prana), mind (has four aspects, see below) and causal body and has as a central factor the ego and the true Self, Consciousness, which is eternal, immortal unchangeable, indestructible and beyond form, time and causality.

The Ego is the factor that separates man from Divine consciousness (God) and all creation. Ego is the factor that makes us identify with body, mind and sensory impressions, veils our true nature preventing us from being aware of It and makes us suffer. Although our true identity is Consciousness due to the ego we believe that we are the physical body; that we are a limited body-mind entity, separate from life and God.

Man consists of

1. Consciousness – True Self

2.  Causal body

3. Mind the inner quadruple organ (mind has four aspects: 1. the external mind (Manas), 2.the intermediate mind (Budhhi), 3. the inner mind (Chitta) and 4. the ego (Ahamkara).

 The four aspects of mind

1)    The inner mind (Chitta)

The Subconscious mind, memory, conditioned consciousness, total field of mind 

2)    The intermediate mind (Buddhi). It has two aspects: intellect and intelligence (higher intellect)

The higher aspect of the intermediate mind (inteñligence) decides, knows, reasons, discerns in a high level. It can know through intuition and discern our Self (Consciousness) from the ego, mind and body.

The lower aspect of intermediate mind (Intellect) since is affected and distorted by the ego and its tendencies (lust, lasciviousness, fear, anger, envy, jealousy, greed, avarice, pride, etc.) functions in a very limited and distorted way. Divides, separates, classifies, labels and functions as a servant of the lower ego to fulfil his egocentric desires. 

3)    The external mind (Manas)

·      Thinking mind

·      Emotional mind

·      Sensory mind

·      Motor mind

4)    Ego (Ahamkara), Our illusory identity

The ego identified with body the apparent self

The ego has two main aspects:

The higher sáttvic aspect and the lower rajasotamasic one.

4. Vital energy (Prana) 

1.    Psychic prana. It gives the energy for the psychological functions and processes.

2.    Physical prana. It gives the energy for the physiological functions and processes.

 

5. Sexual energy. The reproductive energy. It is related to physical and psychological health and is also fundamental for our spiritual transformation and divinization.

6. The three humours or bio-energies – Doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha

7. The three subtle energies: 

Ojas, Tejas and Higher Prana

8. Five senses and five organs of action: 5 senses of cognition (eyes ears, nose, mouth, touch) and 5 organs of action (hands, feet, genitals mouth, anus).

9. Physical body. It consists of the physical organs and the various systems.

~~~  ~~~  ~~~

According Yoga and Vedanta a human being consists of  five Sheats (Koshas) or three bodies

 I present here only a brief description of them

 The five sheaths

 1. Annamaya Kosha, the Food Sheath (Physical Body)

2. Pranamaya Kosha, the vital sheath (Prana-vital energy)

3. Manomaya Kosha, the mental sheath (external mind, -manas)

4. Vijñanamaya Kosha, the sheath of the intellect (the intermidiate mind, -Buddhi),

5. Anandamaya Kosha, the sheath of bliss, bliss (the causal body)

The three bodies

 1. The causal body / The Anandamaya Kosha, the sheath of bliss or happiness

2. The Subtle or Astral body. It consists of the Pranamaya Kosha, the vital sheath, The Manomaya Kosha, the mental sheath (manas), The Vijñanamaya Kosha, the sheath of the intellect (Buddhi),

3. The Physical Body / The Annamaya Kosha, the Food Sheath.

 

 

 

Health, spiritual growth and the factors that affect mind and body ~ by Atman Nityananda

Health, spiritual growth and the factors that affect mind & body


1. Food + water
2. Air
3. Sun
4. Impressions
5. Relations
6. Activities
7. Environment

FOOD

A Life Enhancing Diet to Balance the Mind
"Food is a dynamic force which interacts with the human on the physical body level, the mind emotional level, and also the energetic and spiritual level. The study of nutrition is the study of the interaction with and assimilation of the dynamic forces of food by the dynamic forces of our total being." ~ Gabriel Cousens, M.D., Spiritual Nutrition and The Rainbow Diet?

Balancing the emotional body with food

In Ayurveda a dietary system was developed by the ancient Masters and Sages thousands of years in working with the mind to help support an individual on a spiritual path that perfected the ancient forms of Yoga and Meditation. It is also the foundation of many healing arts. It has a rich tradition that has been taught, practiced and passed onto many cultures over the world.

Ayurveda or Sattvic foods all have one thing in common: they are high in Prana (the universal life force). More specifically, Sattvic foods are natural, organically grown, and as unrefined as possible. Modern food processing takes the Prana out of many foods and makes them heavy, impotent, and lifeless- or simply "dead food."

Mind balance in Ayurveda means modifying the mind from Tamasic or Rajasic to Sattvic state. Choosing those foods and activities that are Sattvic in nature in preference to those that are Rajasic or Tamasic does that. With consistent and dedicated attention to diet, environment and sensory experiences, total mind balance can be achieved.

It often takes discipline and effort to become Sattvic, but the peace of mind, health, strength and immunity that is obtained from this state of mind makes it worthwhile. However, some rajas and tamas qualities are still required for action and motivation to achieve our goals and inaction, sleep or relaxation (tamas).

WATER

Without water life cannot exist on earth. About 79% of our body is  water. Drinking pure natural water is one of the most important factors of good health. The water is also important to clean the body and purify the aura. The sea water is an elixir that cures many diseases and gives to the body vitality and strength.
Read about sea water*

AIR

Air is also one of the important factors of life. We can live without food for many days but without air only a few minutes. Pure fresh air is very important but unfortunately the air in the cities is very pollutes and one of the causes of diseases. That' s it is important to visit often the nature.
Breathing exercises can be used  to increase the prana in the body and and mind and regulate the flow of prana. They can also help us relax and release blocked emotional energy and to calm the mind.

SUN

Sun is the central source of energy and life in every solar system. Without light there is no life. Sun is also a source of intelligence, and divine powers. The sun gaze and the meditation to Sun are two famous practices that strength our health and empower us mentally and spiritually. In Greece we stay naked under the sun we call it Ηλιοθεραπεια. Ηλιο is  the Sun and θεραπεία is therapy or healing, thus Ηλιοθεραπεια is Sun therapy.
In India there is an advanced spiritual practice the pancha yagna in which the practitioner at 12 of noon lies down and looks at sun having in the four corners of his body four fires. It is well known also that in past many races adored the sun and were many Heliocentric religions.
SURIA YOGA- Meditation on Sun*

IMPRESSIONS

The subtle vibrations of the food (the three gunas) affect the mind constitution. Sattvic foods increase the sattva in the mind and the same happens with the other two gunas, rajas and tamas. hus it become obvious that in order to increase the sattva we must increase the amount of sattvic food, decrease the rajasic as much as possible and avoid tamasic food.

Very important even more than food is the impressions we take in through senses and the relations we have. Anything we hear, smell, see, taste or touch may be classified into the categories of Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic. That is to say that every impression can be sattvic, rajasic or tamasic.

The impressions are the direct food for the mind and we must be very careful about the impressions we permit enter in the mind through senses. The quality and the quantity of impressions play a great role to the balance and health of our mind.

INTIMATE RELATIONS

Intimate relations also are very important because our psych are more open to the influences of the vibrations of our partner. In Greece we have a motto that says: ´´tell me who is your friend to tell you who you are´´. This shows us how strongly we are affected from the mental and emotional quality of our friend or partner. Thus we must very careful with whom we decide to have intimate relationship. We must question ourselves why want to be with a certain person. What atracts us to him/her. Especially sexual relations affect us deeply because when we make love we are very open to his energetic and mental vibrations and thus they influence us tremendously. Unfortunately the majority is unconscious of this process and they do not understand its consequenses.

Thus a balanced healthy mind not depends only on the quality of food but also on the quality of impressions and relations. Sattvic food, sattvic impressions, sattvic relations, (in general a sattvic life style) is the basis of a healthy body and mind and our well being.

ACTIVITIES AND ENVIRONMENT

Two other important factors are the activities and the environment. We must be engaged in sattvic activities and live in a sattvic environment or at least make our home a sattvic place in order to create equilibrium, balance and well being. Contact with nature and sports related with nature are very important to restore a lot of pure energy and to calm and purify the mind.
Sattvic activities include any kind of spiritual practices, like hatha yoga asanas, pranayama, recitation of mantra, meditation etc. Listening sattvic music, participating in seminars of self knowledge and knowledge that improve the humanism and sustainable ways of living. Application of sattvic healing methods. Ecological jobs and jobs that improve sustainability and balance to. nature.
Finally I want to emphasise that it is not important only the nature of  activity but also the attitude and the way we do it. Any activity any work we do it as a service to humanity and with a peacful loving state it it is beneficial for our well being and the well being of all.

NOTES:
SEA WATER:
"Water is not the source of life, it is life" - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Plato said, "The sea cures all ailments of man."
Euripides said, "The sea washes away all men's illnesses."
Plato, Hippocrates and Aristotle recommended hot seawater baths.

SEA WATER
René Quinton. Thanks to the biologist René Quinton who proved, one hundred years ago, that the composition of human blood plasma and the raw but diluted oceanic water were alike.

The quasi 'oceanic water' of our body is in synergy with the minutest part of our tissues. Wonder of wonders! But it was necessary for Quinton to prove his discovery. At that time, Mendeleev’s famous Periodic Table of elements which lists the 92 elements found in matter, was just little known. Quinton detected 17 elements in oceanic water with the analytical methods at his disposal. Today, thanks to the biologists Gregory and Overberger, we know that all 92 elements are present in seawater and that all of them are essential to our good health. (Source : OCEAN HEALTH)

SURIA YOGA- Meditation on Sun:
http://atmanityananda.blogspot.com.es/2015/01/surya-yoga-meditation-on-sun-omraam.html

To read more about food and Ayurveda 
http://ayurveda-bcn.blogspot.com.es/2015/08/ayurvedic-diet-to-balance-mind.html

Peace, Love, Harmony

Μental nature according the gunas and doshas / by Dr. David Frawley

 

by Dr. David Frawley

ΜΕΝΤΑL NATURE

of the three doshic types (Vata- Pitta-Kapha)

 according to the states of the three gunas (Sattva- Rajas-Tamas)

VΑΤΑ ΜΕΝΤΑL NATURE

• SATTVIC-Harmonious Energetic, adaptable, flexible, quick in comprehension, good in communication, strong sense of human unity, strong healing energy, good enthusiasm, positive spirit, able to initiate things, good capacity for positive change and movement. 
• RAJASIC-Disturbed Indecisive, unreliable, hyperactive, agitated, volatile, restless, disturbed, distracted, nervous, anxious, overly talkative, superficial, noisy, disruptive, false enthusiasm, excitable.
• TAMASIC-Darkened Fearful, servile, dishonest, secretive, depressed, self-destructive, drug addict, prone to sexual perversions, mentally disturbed, suicidal. 

ΡΙΤΤΑ ΜΕΝΤΑL NATURE

• SATTVIC -Harmonious Intelligent, clear, perceptive, enlightened, discriminating, good will, independent, warm, friendly, courageous, good guide and leader. 
• RAJASIC-Disturbed Willful, impulsive, ambitious, aggressive, controlling, critical, dominating, manipulating, angry, wrathful, reckless, proud, vain.
• TAMASIC-Darkened Hateful, vile, vindictive, violent, destructive, psychopath, criminal, drug dealer, underworld figure. 

 ΚΑΡΗΑ ΜΕΝΤΑL NATURE

• SATTVIC- Harmonious Calm, peaceful, content, stable, consistent, loyal, loving, compassionate, forgiving, patient, devoted, receptive, nurturing, supportive, strong faith.
• RAJASIC- Disturbed, Controlling, attached, greedy, lustful, materialistic, sentimental, needing security, seeking of comfort and luxury.

TAMASIC- Darkened, Dull, gross, lethargic, depressed, apathetic, slothful, coarse, slow comprehension, insensitive, a thief

 Peace Love Harmony

Ojas - Fluid Of Life BY Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Ojas – Fluid Of Life

Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Is Ojas the same as happiness?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Happiness is different from Ojas.
Ojas is a certain type of energy, vibrancy in you. Like in the morning you are very vibrant, then you go to work and get tired, and in the evening you don’t have that same energy, right?
In the same way, when you are enjoying through the five senses, you see television for three hours, or you sit in a movie for three hours and come out, your Ojas is spent. If you listen too much, or eat too much, your Ojas is gone. Too much sex and Ojas totally gets depleted. Ojas is spent when you are engaging in any of the five senses.
Ojas can be rebuilt in the system through proper food, rest and attitude, but not very late in life. You cannot say that you are trying to rebuild your Ojas at the age of 60 or so. It has to be done before a certain age. It is like you cannot become very flexible after a certain age.
Ojas is certain vibrancy in you, energy. Our body has seven substances and Ojas is one of them. In the pulse reading you can see that.
After a certain age, the testosterone hormone is gone; similarly Ojas is related to, let us say, hormones. You cannot build those hormones at a later age.
During teenage, Ojas is maximum, and then if one keeps up with a good routine, good food, then Ojas continues through the middle age. And in the middle age, you can increase it or completely get away with it. That is possible. But after sixty or seventy, you cannot say, ‘Okay, now I want to bring back the Ojas into my system’. It may be possible but it is difficult. It depends.
Then they advise you to do the Kaya Kalpa, which is a particular treatment in Ayurveda, where for forty days you have to be inside a small room with no sunlight. There is a particular diet that you have to follow and you are not allowed to come out in the sunlight. Then people feel totally rejuvenated after forty days.
It is like being in the womb again. Just like a child is in the womb for nine months, they put you through some rigorous treatment for forty days. Only the doctor will come in and give you the treatment, massages, etc.

    SOURCE:  THE ART OF LIVING     http://www.artofliving.org/ojas-%E2%80%93-fluid-life

 

READ ALSO:  

Sexuual energy, Ojas and Self-realization  

SUBLIMATION OF SEXUAL ENERGY By Swami Sivananda

  A clip by Dr Robert Svoboda on Ojas taken from the 2nd International Ayurveda & Yoga Conference - Sydney 2009

 Peace, love, harmony