SATTVIC LIVING
The sattvic living is the foundation of a healthy life as well as of the spiritual path. To live with peace, light, love, wisdom, creativity and harmony is possible only when the sattva guna predominates in our mind.
Therefore one of the fundamental goals in the spiritual life is to increase the sattva guna (quality) in our mind. The sattva guna is the quality of light, intelligence, virtue, clarity and harmony and helps us develop the superior capabilities of the mind and heart, (like discernement, intution, compassion, love etc.)
When the sattva guna predominates in us, we create the foundation on which all divine virtues and spiritual practices can easily flourish. The ability to discern the true of the false and the ability to be detached from the objects, thoughts, emotions semsations and exteral situations can be developed fully in a sattvic mind.
Our capacity for concentration, meditation and self-inquiry, which
are the most important practices for self-realization, can be developed highly only
when the sattva guna predominates in our mind. The sattva guna makes the mind, quiet,
calm, sharp, luminous, focused, introverted and aspire for truth, peace and
eternal bliss.
On
the contrary when in our mind prevails the rajas guna, it becomes extroverted,
restless, distracted and turbulent and therefore we cannot concentrate steadily
into the space of silence within (or any othe object of meditation). The mind
by defoult in rajas guna mode is seeking sensual experiences, action and
pleasure.
When
the mind is under the dominion of tamas guna it becomes inert, sleepy, dull,
lazy, and thus it becomes very difficult (or quite impossible) to remain alert
enough and vigilant, in order to pay attention, concentrate and meditate as
well as it isn't capable to learn, discern and understand.
In order we to increase the sattva guna in the mind, we must keep sattvic associations or relations at all levels of existence. That means, that the sensory impressions (sounds, colors, sights, smells), the meals, drinks, relationships, activities, actions, words, thoughts, emotions, the environment in which we live and work etc. must be of sattvic nature.
Our meals and drinks should be sattvic (read here about sattvic foods) as well as all sensory impressions (read sattvic books, listen to music and songs sattvic, make relations with sattvic people and spiritual teachers, have contact with nature etc.)
Of course, our self, (the lower rajasotamásic self, the ego) with its selfish tendencies, the mental and emotional patterns and conditioning, and its habits wants to keep repeating the same things mechanically and compulsively.
Our
rajasotamasic ego resists greatly the changes we want to make. And here is the importance
of the spiritual guidance, which can be the spiritual teachings (from books,
videos, internet), a spiritual center or a spiritual teacher; their support and
knowledge can be a great help for us to overcome the obstacles, the
resistance as well as our habits and subconscious patterns. Of course they
cannot practice for us. Although the external help is of great importance, 'we
have to make the effort, 'we are the most important factor of our
transformation; only 'we can change ourselves, none else. Only very rare ripe
souls doesn't need much help from outside.
It is also certain that we cannot change everything in ourselves at once; But if we do our spiritual practices regularly and diligently, with determination, faith, self-confidence, patience, tenacity and perseverance, we can undoubtedly overcome all obstacles and develop all necessary capabilities to transform ourselves. We will finally transform ourselves in beings of love and light.
It is only a matter of faith, practice and time.
It is obvious that several times we will find ourselves in situations that are not sattvic as well as in difficult conditions in which it will be not so easy to act according our intentions and goals. If this is the case, we must accept what happens and do our best to alleviate the situation until it will possible for us to change external things and situations. In this case, the difficulties and the challenges can be either opportunities for us to develop capabilities or occasions for complaints and suffering. Depends on our attitude, maturity and capacity to maintain our inner equilibrium as much as possible and learn from these challenges.
It is certain also that we cannot always avoid pain or difficult situations but suffering depends only on our state of consciousness, mental purity, psychological skills and mental attitude.
Our
transformation is a continuous process to discard the tamasic and rajasic
qualities, patterns, tendencies, habits, emotions and beliefs and increase the
sattvic ones until our mind and intellect become completely sattvic. The final
step is to go beyond even the sattva and rest permanently in our essential
nature (Atman, absolute or pure Consciousness) which is beyond the three gunas
(gunanita).