Hold on within
Tatparam Purushakhyatehe Guna Vaithrushnyam
*****
By knowing what does one achieve detachment from the world - which is nothing but an amalgam of the three Gunas or characteristics - Satwa - Tranquility, Rajas - Dynamism and Tamas - Inertia. Any person, animal, plant, being, objects and situations that comprise this world is a permutation combination of the three Gunas.
To achieve a steady mind, one needs to be detached from the Gunas and remain a dispassionate observer of people and events. The detachment achieved in this manner does not make one a helpless spectator, pushed by situations and people. On the contrary, a sense of detachment with the world and attachment to the Parama Purusha or the Cosmic Consciousness within one's mind can make an individual strong and steady, ready for action when required.
Take the example of the game of tug of war. A team which is focussed on its strength can easily pull the opposing team to its side. However, if the team members are agitated by fear and confused by focussing on the Gunas (characteristics) of the opposing team, then they lose their balance as the outside forces get an upper hand and scatter them to their side.
This detachment without and attachment within brings to my mind a scientific reply for a question on how the creamy layer forms over milk when heated. The scientist said that one end of the fat molecules that constitute the milk is hydrophilic and the other end is hydrophobic. When the milk is agitated with heat, all the hydrophobic ends huddle together and attach to each other while the hydrophilic ends expand outward to the water element, forming a thick layer of cream. Same with the mind which attaches strongly to the supreme consciousness within and expands from the outer circumference with freedom into the world. Such a mind of dispassion without and compassion within is steadily rooted in Yoga.
(Picture: The earth below, cloud in between like an umbrella over the city of Chicago and the sky above. The Gunas are many which form the world of matter, and the one consciousness is like the sky plain and expanded. The mind that connects the two is like the cloud.)
- Swahilya Shambhavi.
22 comments:
Swahilya,
Lovely picture. I love the way you have connected it to the Gunas and how they "cloud" our actions. Also loved the image of milk boling - beautiful!
Meena.
Swahilya,
Wonderful little piece on the Gunas, thanks!
Although their names may be different, the principles you derscribe certainly apply to and have their correspondences in all traditions.
Thanks to pieces like this, we are able to translate them into our own, helping us to achieve a common Understanding, across any barrier of cultures (if ever such barriers existed).
wonderful shot and commentary1
Thank you Meena. The moment I read the scientific perspective on how cream is formed, I couldn't help connecting it with a strong mind that draw itself within and gets rooted in consciousness and expands into the world without.
Yes A.V.C. every cultural tradition and religion is based on bringing the mind back home to consciousness and be rooted there, while thinking and acting in the world outside.
The mind can be imaged like a stuffed doll, only a live one. The stuff is the consciousness which the mind is in touch with from the inside, that gives space for expression and the outside of the doll is colourful expression of the three Gunas - if it is a horror doll, then there will be more of tamas and rajas and less of satwa, if it is a gentle barbie, then it will be more of satwa, a little less of rajas and zero tamas. So consciousness is the stuff we are made of!
Welcome merging point! I delighted in taking photos of various countries from the sky, as if they were landscapes seen out of a train window! That way I have pictures of France, Switzerland's Alps, the Zagros Mountains of Iran and generally much of the earth, clouds and the sky above which commonly is looked up to by people on the earth, as a place where the gods reside!
Beautiful philosophy and great imagery, Swayilha. I'll carry the milk and cream image with me and remember that when I am stressed. And remember the connecting clouds. Great cloud photo and post!!!
Have a super weekend. Our weather has warmed to the 40s. Don't fall over. LOL
Hugs, JJ
Welcome JJ....now the stay warm best wishes have to be changed to stay cool!
Dear Swahilya,
I was inspired by your post to write a piece on my tradition's interpretation of the Gunas. Hope you don't mind. Thank you!
Learning to be the detached observer is key to refining our awareness. Thank-you for your writing.
Dear swahilya, until your post I never related milk to this matter called detachment but it fits. I am a an admirer of your writing skills.
You left a link in one of your comments, but the end was truncated. Could you please let me know the fill link for I wasn't able to find your article by search.
You are most welcome AVC. I am happy if someone is inspired by what is written here! I read your interpretation. Sounds cool!
Welcome Mark. Thank you.
Welcome Ray. Thanks for your comments. I had difficulty pasting it as it gets truncated. I tried many times, but it doesn't seem to work.
So I have put the link among other links below this post on the Patanjali Yoga Sutra titled The Himalayas. You may see it there.
Thank you.
Nice picture and Milk boiling explanation, sorry Mind blowing explanation!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome fruitu, thank you!
Dear swahily, thank you, I have read the article in the hindu. In Germany the highest mountain is roundabaout a bit over 2960 meters. Its quite astonisching to think of this great country and its different landscapes.
Welcome Ray! The mountains are same around the world, but in India, the presence of many thousands of spiritual masters in the Himalayas and the vibrations of their contemplations make it a spiritually vibrant place.
One more article on the Himalayas on the serendipity of my journey is still due. It should hopefully be published soon.
Interesting post and image..fitting for the title "Hold on Within"
Hmmm...detached observing is the way but not always easy for me. Sometimes my mind gets in the way. Does that make sense? :O
Thank you for BEING!
Yes gypsy-heart, detached observation is indeed easily said than done. But still all the practices in Yoga and prayer of world religions is to help the mind to quieten down. This way, detached observation is a natural result. It takes practice and patience and is a matter of fact in time that it will happen!
Thank you.
Lovely post and wonderful imagery! The milk and cream explains so well!!
Welcome Kichenette, thank you.
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