Sattva

Ayurveda has a unique perspective on food and its impact on human health. According to a Ayurveda, food is classified into three categories, based on their inherent qualities or Gunas - Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. These Gunas are said to affect the mind and body in different ways, and choosing the right foods can help maintain a healthy balance of these qualities.

Sattva is the purest of the three Gunas, representing balance, harmony, and purity. Sattvic foods are those that are fresh, light, and easy to digest and are considered to be the ideal diet for maintaining good health and spiritual growth. Examples of Sattvic foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and dairy products such as milk, ghee, and yogurt. Freshly made, no processing--whole grains, plant based is considered sattvik diet and is best for those with mental health imbalance or emotional wellbeing.

Rajas represent the quality of passion, energy, and activity, Rajasic foods are spicy, salty, or sour, and I said to stimulate the mind and body. While Rajasic foods can provide energy and vitality, consuming them excessively can lead to restlessness, anxiety, and over activity. Examples of Rajasic foods include spicy foods, caffeine, onions, garlic, and fermented foods.

Tamas represents the quality of inertia, darkness, and dullness. Tamasic foods are those that are heavy, oily, and difficult to digest, and are said to weigh down the mind and body. Consuming tamasic foods in excess can lead to lethargy, depression, and lack of motivation. Examples of tamasic foods include meat, fish, eggs, processed foods, and alcohol.

In Ayurveda, it is believed that a balanced diet should include a combination of Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic foods in appropriate portions. For example, a meal consisting of fresh vegetables, whole grains, and a small amount of spicy chutney or pickles can provide a balanced combination of all three gunas.

The concept of Gunas in Ayurveda is not just limited to food, but also extends to other aspects of life, such as relationships, activities, and environments, by understanding the qualities of different foods and making conscious choices, we can make a healthy balance of these Gunas in our bodies and minds.

The concept of Sattva, rajas, and tamas classifications of food in Ayurveda offers a unique perspective on the impact of food on human health and well-being. Choosing the right foods in appropriate proportions can help maintain a healthy balance of these qualities and promote physical, mental, and spiritual health. By incorporating these principles into our diet and lifestyle, we can achieve a state of balance and harmony in all aspects of our lives.

Blog By Lori

Three doshas walk into a bar....

An Ayurveda blog entry about doshas and the mind connexion by Nina Elliot.

Vata, Pitta and Kapha decide to try out a new restaurant downtown, called Triguna, which promises to be a unique visit, as it is a multisensory fine-dining experience. Patrons have been marveling at how great the food is, as well as how such sophisticated technology has been able to access the mind so deeply.

Prana, the host, greets them at the door, and explains the evening’s events. The doshas will visit three rooms, each representing a Universal quality of the Mind. Together, accompanied by key Subdoshas at their service, they will be transported into spaces which will reflect their inner selves, much like a mirror.

Prana continues:

Should you need help in articulating your emotions, Udana will be there.

If you need to get motivated to move along, Vyana’s got you.

Apana will be laying low, but will spring into action if needed.

Need help in making a decision or supporting you emotional intelligence? Sadhaka Pitta’s your guy.

Perhaps you need support returning to calmness…Tarpaka Kapha will be there.

Should you just need a hug, reach for Avalambaka Kapha.

Prana adds that it will not be joining the doshas personally, but will be back in the control room - ensuring a smooth journey for them all. Buzzing with excitement, they hop onto a conveyor belt and follow the sounds of drum beats getting louder… They have reached the first room, Rajas. A blazing fireplace in one corner illuminates the room’s red walls. Movement is everywhere one looks, and although very interesting, a chaotic current runs throughout. One side of the room showcases a window into an ocean, with waves constantly rising and falling, the other side has an interactive wall, filled with activities, rides, puzzles, etc…

After they have explored the room, they sit down to eat.

Rajas’s menu consists of chicken with chili-garlic tapenade, dark chocolate bites, and wine or coffee.

Vata’s mind is racing, between the overload of the senses and their nervous energy, anxiety is building. Pitta, onto a second glass of red wine….looks over at Vata and muses “it looks like I will come out of this a whole lot saner than you, my friend’. Kapha is too busy popping chocolates in their mouth and into their coat pocket to say anything.

When it is time to leave, Tarpaka Kapha provides them with a warm towel for the face and hands, and sprays them with a soothing cleansing mist to clear the energy.

The group is then blindfolded, and led into the Tamas room. Though they can’t see, soft, luxurious fabrics pad the walls and the floor to soften any unsure footing. Elevator music lulls in the background, and a heaviness in the air permeates throughout.

They make their way to the table and are told the menu:

Assorted sweet pastries, potato au gratin, animal-based (dead foods).

Wilted spinach & arugula salad with balsamic vinaigrette

Miso soup

Vata is suffering, as they are unable to choose between the salad or the pastries. This indecisiveness starts to escalate into grief and shame, until Sadhaka Pitta whispers a recommendation for the soup, to which Vata gratefully agrees. Pitta, despite not being able to see, suddenly becomes enraged as they believe Vata and Kapha were seated in more desirable seats and shouts in protest. Kapha doesn't notice Vata fretting or Pitta fuming…but does get enticed by how comfortable a couch feels before them and sinks into it, falling into a deep sleep.

After a while Vyana wakes up Kapha, and nudges the others to prepare for the next room.

Avalambaka Kapha gives them each a flower and forgives Pitta for their outburst.

‘How is your night so far?’ Udana asks.

‘Well, ahem, it is, it’s been, um….’ Vata starts…

‘A powerful and practical experience which will help you understand and navigate life?’, Udana offers...

‘Exactly!’ exclaims the group in unison, taking off their blindfolds.

They continue on together and they find themselves in an outdoor garden pathway, which they walk through with bare feet. Following a trail of sweet incense and pure light with increasing radiance, they come upon a serene lake before them, and they know they have reached the Sattva room. It is perfect.

As they snack on an ornate spread of fresh fruits, seeds, dates, honey and ghee, the group is able to see things as they really are, and they revel in this clarity. Vata finally feels joy and wonder, Pitta already longs to come back, and Kapha affectionately praises his friends, even offering to pay the night’s bill.

Prana returns and gives the group a gift. It is the parking validation, as well as a voucher for free, unlimited visits to the Sattva room at Triguna, providing that the doshas take care of each other and keep their own Rajas and Tamas rooms well kept. So pleased with their night, they make reservations to visit the sister restaurants Atma and Sarira, also equally popular.

A Definition of the Mind or Manas according to Ayurveda-

By Liberty Elliot (Ayurveda Counselor Student)

According to Ayurveda, Humans are beings who are layered and multidimensional, comprised of a Triad of Existence which consists of the Body, Mind, and Soul. These parts are inseparable and coexist together in order to maintain our life and consciousness.

Beginning with the Soul, or Atma, there is a spark of Divine Consciousness. The Atma is like the God particle, an inseparable part of us that resides in and is the Universe. This indestructible energy animates our body with Prana (subtle and vital life-force energy) and it also interacts with the external world via our mind and senses. Soul resides in the Heart. This essence can transmigrate from one physical being, carried with the subtle mind and ego, to the next in a progression of reincarnated existence. Bliss is the natural state of the Atma.

Mind is an integral part of humans that interacts with both the soul and physical body and could be likened to the Conductor in a Symphony of Life. Mind, or Manas as it is known in Ayurvedic terms, is our consciousness and becomes both Ego (Ahamkara) and Intellect (Bhuddi) as it evolves. Our Ego is the first layer after the Atma, providing our sense of identity and purpose, it is the doer. Buddhi or Intellect is responsible for our powers of logic, reasoning, and memory, it resides mostly in the head.

The mind is very powerful and permeates both subtle and physical bodies via the circulation of Prana, our vital life force. Residing in the heart and brain, it circulates throughout the body in the Pranavaha and Manovaha Srotas. The mind creates consciousness in connection with the body and senses. It is the command center of the Sensory and Motor Functions, sometimes referred to as our 6th Sense. It also is responsible for thinking, feeling, and being willing. The mind is an organ of both perception and action and it greatly determines our perception of reality. Mind is comprised of the three energies (Gunas) of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.

Rajas-a mode of passion or desire, characterized by activity and turbulence, it can relate to ambitious and dynamic action, but if imbalanced also greed and heated temper

Tamas-a mode of darkness, ignorance, and inertia, characterized by inactivity and a depressed state, is responsible for important functions, like sleep, but it can also relate to laziness and indulgence.

Sattva-a state of peace, intelligence, and enlightenment, characterized by traits of compassion, courage, and good intellect. Sattva is a state of pure existence, a balanced and peaceful state of mind where the Gunas are all in a state of balance and harmony.

Mind oversees how we think, feel, and our actions and decisions. It is said that the mind is a powerful servant but a dangerous master.

In Ayurveda, most imbalances arise first in the mind due to its most powerful effect on our behaviors. Suffering and diseases may be caused by Rogas or improper behaviors which arise from our egotistical desires. They are likened to the seven cardinal sins. Actions like lust, gluttony, greed, violence, and anger will lead to inevitable suffering and heavier karmic debt. This is why it is important to make an effort to practice restraints and willpower in such cases to overcome our most basic desires and evolve in a more spiritual way. Practices like Meditation, Mantra Yoga, and Chanting can strengthen our minds. Charitable actions too are very helpful in raising our awareness and can help to achieve great peace and balance in our mind which can flow from consciousness into our life for the benefit of all existence.