Two sides of Dissonance
Dissonance or lack of alignment with our true nature can show up in two forms.
Restlessness
Hopelessness
If you notice yourself when struggling to feel good about life, one of the above two will be the undercurrent. Both of these two tendencies can become a virus in our system, robbing us of our enjoyment in life.
According to Sankhya Sutra there are three qualities (guna) at play, in human life, at all times.
Rajas (force)
Tamas (inertia)
Sattva (balance)
If you map the two tendencies at the beginning of this post, you can see that one of the negative manifestation of Rajas is restlessness and of Tamas is hopelessness. While Rajas and Tamas are not negative or 'bad' in themselves, they are the two sides of polarity.
We live in a world of polarity (opposites) and don't need to get rid of either. However,
being pulled too far to one side can make us feel like we are out of balance and constantly toggling between the two can feel like life is exhausting to keep up with. Do either of these feelings sound familiar?
To live an enjoyable life, we need to preserve and extend the third quality which is Sattva (balance). Unlike the other two Sattva does not have a negative manifestation. It is the underlying principle behind peaceful existence of the two polarities. No amount of sattva in our life will ever can lead to any negative effects, but excess rajas will lead to restlessness and excess tamas will lead to hopelessness or dejection.
So how do we preserve and extend the Sattva qualities?
Anything and everything that brings us to 'joy' preserves our Sattva.
But the trouble is most of us are so disconnected from the concept of 'joy' and often lose the ability to be joyful quite early in our lives. What is joy? Joy is not happiness or excitement. It is different.
Joy is the state of content, appreciative, radiant, bliss that oozes from within our soul for 'no external reason'.
Very young (preverbal) children naturally radiate joy. But we adults are far removed from joy. It's a collective amnesia.
'Serene gladness, gentleness, silence, self-restraint and purified temperament are qualities of a beautified mind.' - Bhagavad Gita
When was the last time you felt joy? What brought you to joy? What modifications can you make to bring more joy into your life?
Some ways to boost Sattva include,
Eating fresh and wholesome food (avoiding refined, processed and overstimulating food)
Spending regular time in nature (away from hustle and bustle)
Scheduled rest time (away from the screens)
Yoga poses
Pranayam (breath & energy work prescribed in Yoga teachings)
Meditation
Service (volunteering)
If you wish to learn more about the philosophical concepts mentioned in this post or need support getting started, contact us meditatewithbms@gmail.com or look through our website for ways to get started.
Blessings & Guidance,
BMS Sangha
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