cultivating sattva

Sattva is one of the three gunas of the mind that represent a quality of peace or stillness. The process of cultivating sattva occurs through all five senses as well as through proper lifestyle. It is important to know that one does not just become sattvic, we transcend from one guna to the next— tamas, rajas, sattva, or inertia, activity and purity respectively. We can dive deeper into the gunas another day. In the meantime, here are some things to focus on if you are prepared to cultivate sattva into your being:

• Spend more time in nature

  This allows for peaceful, harmonious impressions to enter our consciousness through the senses

• Meditation

  Most forms of meditation create greater stillness in the mind and deeper awareness. It is here where people can connect more deeply with spirit

• Yoga

  The four paths of yoga (karma, bhakti, raja, jnana) all help to cultivate sattva. When the mind is calm, sattva is predominant— the veils of illusion are lifted, revealing one’s true nature as spirit. This occurs through proper lifestyle, pranayama, asanas and meditation practices

• Avoid the influence of media

  Most often screen-time is very rajasic, thus disturbing to the mind. What comes through media enters consciousness making both the quality and the quantity of what’s perceived very important. Violent, fearful and angry images and feelings are felt as one’s own on a subtle level. One can also get easily caught up in the illusions and dramas of life with too much exposure to things like news and social media

• Eat a sattvic diet

  Seasonal, local & organic, home-made vegetarian food that is not too spicy