Sattva अच्योष्ट is a Sanskrit word and means pure essence, harmony and light. It
represents intelligence, creative potential, equilibrium… 

Sattva is one of the three universal energies or cosmic principles called Gunas.

The three Gunas are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas which directly interphase with human existence. These qualities of nature have a direct effect on the physical behaviour, mental outlook and emotional balance of every individual. A healthy balance of the three Gunas is required for a happy existence.

Sattva - represents all that is illuminating, intelligent, creative, compassionate and harmonious.

Rajas - represents all that is dynamic, metabolic, hot, restless and selfish. It is the principle of movement, change and excitability.

Tamas - represents all that is inert, still, dull, unconscious, sluggish and ignorant. It is the principle of darkness and confusion.

For example: a yogic vegetarian diet is sattvic, the driven executive is rajas and the slothful couch potato is tamasic.

These three qualities influence both our body and mind.

On a universal level, Sattva is vast, clear space, Rajas is atmosphere and Tamas is solid substance.

Three gunas and food

Ayurveda classifies food as sattvic, rajas and tamasic according to the effect they produce on the mind.

Tamasic food includes meat, eggs, mushrooms, garlic and stale food. They make the mind dull and heavy.

Rajasic foods include hot, spicy and fermented food, such as pickles, chutneys, grains and legumes. They can make the senses agitated and the mind hyperactive.

Sattvic foods include many fresh vegetables and fruits, certain grains.. They induce clarity, compassion, love and thus balance the mind.

If we eat sattvic food, we will have sattvic qualities in our mind and consciousness, which are love and peace.

Three gunas and the mind 

The mind itself is called sattva. Clarity as sattva is the basic clear quality of the mind that allows for perception to occur. Sattva means what posses the same nature as truth or reality. The mind is naturally clear and pure but becomes dark by negative emotions and thoughts. When pure it produces enlightenment and self-realisation.

Sattvic qualities of the mind are clarity, alertness, attentiveness, love, compassion, and cooperativeness. Through sattva, awareness is manifested as happiness, joy, bliss and contentment. A sattvic mind is cheerful, has great memory, concentration and patience. A person with a sattvic mind embodies a profound wisdom, great deal of enthusiasm, skill, creativeness, courage, confidence, and vitality.

Rajas qualities of the mind are self-self-centredness, selfishness, restlessness.
Tamas qualities express as dullness, gloominess, depression, sadness, and laziness.

Three gunas and lifestyle

Everyone should follow a sattvic and pure lifestyle that gives peace and clarity to the mind.

Ayurvedic lifestyle principles are generally of a sattvic harmonious nature.
Physical purity includes pure diet, with raw and freshly cooked vegetarian food, pure air and water, proper exercise of a calming nature and physical cleanliness.
Purity of the mind includes truthfulness, honesty, humility, equanimity, non-violence, friendliness, and compassion to all beings.

Emotional impurities like anger, hatred, pride, lust and fear are given u, gossip and worryare to be set aside. These are the main bad mental habits that destroy the natural clarity and equipoise of the mind. 

Purity of lifestyle include right livelihood, an occupation that does not bring harm to other, pleasant speech, harmonious and pleasant environment, and an avoidance distraction, noise and violent or degrading forms of entertainment.

Sattvic lifestyle includes service to humanity and looking after our precious planet.

Purity itself however should not become and fault through self-righteousness,
hypersensitivity and fanaticism. A sense of humour and moderation in everything we do should always be maintained. Natural harmony and adaptability is necessary rather thanthe imposition of an artificial standard.

Yoga, meditation or walking in nature promote sattva. Intense, stimulating activities such as hot yoga, high intensity circuit training, dancing to loud aggressive music promote rajas.

Watching TV for an extensive amount of time, lounging on the couch for hours or watching really sad movies promote tamas.

Rajas and tamas are needed in small quantities, but cause disease when they accumulate to excess. 

Sattvic energy and disease potential

Sattvic types are the least likely to suffer from disease. Their nature is harmonious and adaptable. They thrive towards balance and have a peace of mind that eliminates the psychological root of disease. They are considerate of others and take care of themselves, look after their physical and mental wellbeing. They see every aspect of life as a learning experience and try to see to identify the ‘good’ in everything including disease.

Sattva and mental health

Psychological disorders are often caused by a vitiation of sattva - by the disturbance of the inherent clear quality of the mind. This occurs through rajas and tamas, turbulence and darkness in the mind. Rajas involves anger, hatred and fear, nervousness, worry and anxiety. Tamas involves excess sleep, dullness, apathy, inertia and the inability to perceive things as they are.

Our modern society is excessively rajasic. We are constantly moving, travelling, surround us with new stimulations and are always on the go. We are constantly preoccupied with something - working, playing or entertaining ourselves.

Multitasking is our new-age habitual enemy. We take little time for peace and quiet or heart-to-heart conversations.

Silence makes us uncomfortable although it can be such a powerful state of mind.

Sattva, the clear essence of the mind, can only be truly renewed in silence and space. It is worn out by too much mental activity, including excessive intellectual or philosophical thinking. Most of our relaxation today involves entertainment, TV and screens of any kind.

These are sort of passive mental activities that still wear out the mind and maneuver us into isolation from family and friends. We have lost the sattvic pursuits that nourish the heart and soul. With our agitation and distractions comes mental stress and psychological disease. Psychological unrest is a sign of lack of connection with our inner self - our soul, which is the source of our joy and creativity.

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