Hatha Yoga - “Gunas”
“Yoga is possible only in Ekagra and Niroddhah states of mind”.
The Hindu sages have
classified mental activity into 5
different states called “Chitta Bhumis”. They are Kshipta, Muddha, Vikshipta, Ekagra and Niroddhah.
It is the transcendental state born of the true knowledge
of the "Individual self" and one is beyond the thirst for the three
"Gunas" or "one's own
qualities". There are three "gunas", namely rajas, tamas and satva.
Now
let's define the different aspects of “Gunas”,
Now let us discuss the states of mind or Chitta
Bhumis and they are 5 in number. They are Kshipta,
Muddha, Vikshipta, Ekagra and Nirodhah.
Out of these Kshipta,
Muddha, and Vikshipta are
non-yogic states and Ekagra and Nirodhah are yogic states.
“Gunas” is one of
three propensities and potentials namely satva, rajas and tamas. This category
is adopted by various schools of Hinduism. The three qualities are:
Satva:-
Satva is
the quality of stability, coherence, goodness, pureness, diversity, holism,
conception, imagination, positivity and serenity.
Rajas:-
Rajas are
the quality of desire, unkind action, selfishness and arrogance.
Tamas:-
Tamas is
the quality of inequality, sickness, confusion, jumpiness, dirtiness,
destruction, delusion, negativity, dryness or sluggishness, weariness,
exhaustion or slothfulness, ferocity, sadism and illiteracy.
In Indian philosophy, these
classifications are in different magnitudes and different situations. The living being or substance is viewed as the
net result of the joint result of these three qualities. None of these
classifications are alone. One's character and behaviour organize a complex
interplay of all three qualities in variable units. In some, the satvic guna is
of a rajasic nature with considerable influence; in some, it is rajasic with
significant influence of tamasik guna. The balance of the qualities of
everything and everyone can be transformed if we will. However, a change in one
quality faces a slowdown from the other two qualities. Transformation requires
internal or external motivation or reinforcement to modify awareness and
dynamics. Rajasguna empowers transformation, while Satvaguna empowers one
towards harmonious and constructive change. The lowest is the Tamas guna
checkmate, which obstructs the path of transformation and blocks the process of
a person's progress.
In Bhagavad Gita Chapters 2,
3, 7, 13, 14, 17 and 18 of Bhagavad Gita explains “Gunas”. Verse 17.2 refers to
the three Guna as sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. It is the inborn nature and
personality of an individual. Satvic guna is clean, genuine, kind-hearted,
passionless, and upright, with positive thought and good behaviour. Tamasic
guna leads to uncleanness, obscurity and unhelpfulness to hurt another,
disrespectfully. Rajasic guna is egoistic, passionate, energetic, pretentious
and attention-seeking.
In
Chapters 17 and 18, Bhagavad Gita demonstrates a few matters and actions by the
three Gunas. For example, three types of offerings are discussed, and what
makes offerings Satvic, Rajasic or Tamasic. Likewise, diet, relations, wisdom and
activities are detailed in terms of the three Gunas. In Chapter 18, for example, the action that is righteous,
free from attachment, and without desire for outcomes is considered Satvic, Action
that is aimed at longing for happiness, selfish and narrow-minded effort is
Rajasic. An action undertaken with
disregarding consequences, without considering loss or harm to others or
yourself, is called Tamasic.
In
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, verses 23rd to 25th explains knowledge.
The
knowledge that is attached to the object of action, without concern for
understanding the origin, without concern for purpose or significance, is
Tamasic. The
knowledge that is separated, that considers all unrelated, individualistic and
meaningless is Rajasic. The
knowledge that sees oneness in all beings that seeks wholeness, unity in
diversity, and resemblances in the separated constituents is Satvic.
1. Kshiptha:
In
Kshiptha state the whole mind rushes like a mad elephant in whatever direction
it chooses. Those who are in such a state of mind do not even try to stop
this purposeless activity, because they believe it to be their normal state and
all other states are abnormal, morbid or diseased. They are afraid of sinking
into indifference or losing their individuality if anyone tells them to reduce
the tremendous speed with which their mind is running and advises them to take
a little rest. They think rest means either sleep or death. Here “Gunas”
of 'Rajas' are predominant. This is the state of agitation, confusion and
distraction and the mind is always scattered and wandering. Another name for
this mind is the monkey mind because the monkey is always swinging from one
branch to another. Thoughts, emotions and feelings come and go in rapid
succession which means a very low capacity to hold attention. Even the person
is not aware of these fluctuations arising and subsiding in the mind. A person
seeks objects of pleasurable things to his body and senses.
2. Muddha:
In Mudddha state people are stupid and
confused. Here intellect, understanding and reason are enveloped, as it were
with the darkness of ignorance. “Gunas” of Tamas are dominant. It is the state
of dullness and lethargy in which one can't concentrate on anything and the
mind is always. In this state, a person is dull, lazy, delusional, inactive and
idiotic.
3. Vikshipta:
In the vikshipta state
“Gunas” of Tamas and Rajas are equally dominated and oscillate between the two.
This is an interruption of the mind all the time and is not able to fully focus
on anything and is distracted
occasionally. One is trying to move towards the goal however, the progress is
low. Most people start practising meditation and yoga in this state. If they
get in contact and guidance from a spiritual teacher or Yogic Guru, they will
move towards the state of Ekagra.
Yogic states are of two types and are Ekagra and Niroodhah.
4. Ekagra:
In
ekagra state “Gunas” of satva is predominant and mind is relaxed. One attains
single-pointedness and concentration and retains the attention of the mind for
a long time. Here all painful modification of the mind becomes less and less.
All the knots of desires for worldly things and sense pleasures are slackened
hence they cease to disturb the peace of mind. One pointed mind can begin the
real practice of meditation and lead to self-realization.
5. Nirodhah:
Nirodhah
state is the state of no modification of the mind and is well controlled and
concentrated. Here all the involuntary activity is subdued and the mind
transcends its ordinary limitations and reaches the 'Super conscious state of
Samadhi' the higher yogic state of 'God-consciousness'. This is the state of cessation
of modification of the mind. Here one attains an Equanimous state of
mind with discernment.