Ayurveda and Qualities of Mind

Ayurveda is a lifestyle that offers a holistic approach to health and wellness, and focuses on correcting imbalances within the mind, body and spirit. Following Ayurvedic principles may act as a preventative to disease and illness.*

Ayurveda: What is the Mind?

According to Ayurveda - the ancient system of healing and wellness originating from India - Mind is the sixth sense organ. Mind assimilates and interprets information from the five senses - sight, taste, smell, sound and touch. It is the central processing unit of the senses that lead to action, withdrawal of action, non-action and interpretation of the world around us.

Mind can also control the senses, and also use the information from the senses to make decisions. The overuse, underuse or misuse of the senses are some of the causes of disease in the Ayurvedic perspective, and are caused by how we use the mind. Mind is considered to be one of the three dimensions that make up a human. The other two are the Atma (Soul) and Sarira (the physical body).

Mind is not synonymous with the brain, although the brain is a tool used by the mind. The mind is a conscious layer of intelligent energy, and when it combines with the intellect and the ego, it gives the sense of the person that we take ourselves to be.

Ayurveda recognises that the mind is located in the heart, whilst also pervading the entire body. Through the senses, the mind connects the outside world to the inner world, and can give knowledge to the Being or Soul. It is an organ of both perception and of action.

The mind has three primary qualities or attributes (the trigunas). These three qualities are referred to as sattva, rajas and tamas.

Sattva is the expression of light, truth, purity, intelligence. A sattvic mind is one of compassion, love, kindness, and oriented to rightful service to others or to the Divine. Someone who has a mostly sattvic mind will be peaceful, calm tempered, and have a balanced mind, emotions and body. It can be said that the evolution of the human Being is to increase sattvic properties.

A sattvic mind can be cultivated by prayer, meditation, yoga, healing inner traumas, being kind to others, taking care of self and the planet, eating sattvic foods, and choosing the company of the holy and the wise.

Rajas in the mind is the expression of agitation (due to desire or conflicting desires), turbulence, chaos, distraction, lack of clarity. A rajasic mind is always on the go. It is the creative dimension of the Universe. In its extreme manifestation, it is controlling and power-driven, unable to trust Life’s natural flow and goodness.

Cultivating a more sattvic lifestyle will help to reduce a rajasic mind. Slowing down and cultivating spiritual faith is also important for those ruled by rajas.

Tamas in the mind is the expression of darkness, confusion, ignorance, lethargy, heaviness, and the inability to perceive correctly. If the quality of tamas is high in the mind, someone will suffer from depression, lack of motivation, dark thoughts and powerlessness. Adopting a sattvic lifestyle, including some rajasic qualities (of action, motivation, inspiration) will help balance a tamasic mind.

All qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas are present in the human mind, and the Universe, in this dance of creation.

Ayurveda balances rajas and tamas, and promotes sattva in each individual to create and wellness in the body and mind.

*Disclaimer: Ayurveda is not medically recognised in the US, and is not intended to treat, heal or cure any disease. All information here and elsewhere is purely for informational purposes.