Translations of the Ayurvedic Principles Part II
- dianadem
- Jul 9, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 14, 2023
In the post here you will find the first part of translation of Ayurvedic principles. Here we view other perspectives of Ayurveda
The Gunas
One way to communicate between the mind, body, and soul is the gunas. Gunas can be translated from Sanskrit as a thread, cord, but also as quality or property. There is three main type of gunas - sattva (harmony, clarity, lucidity), rajas (movement, agitation), tamas (inertia and contradiction). As well as doshas, gunas are part of the prakruti, the body constitution. However, when doshas affect more the body than the mind, gunas signify the energy which connects the body and mind and regulates the field of receiving and interpreting the information between our body and mind. Guna encompasses many emotional, psychosomatic, and mental aspects of the person. The development of dominant guna depends on the daily practices of the person. Often a person may have a combination, for example, sattvic-rajasic guna. Rajasic guna is now dominant with most people since we live in an era of agitation, movement travels and urges and compulsions have become a social norm .
Qualities of sattva: positive, courageous, intelligent, humble, sympathetic, enthusiastic, eloquent, independent, calm, contented, devoted, humble
As Sattva is the energy of harmony, increasing sattva is encouraged and to develop sattvic guna is one of the goals of Ayurveda.
According to the dosha constitution, a person with Sattvic guna would exhibit the most harmonious and balanced traits of the dosha. For example, a sattvic kapha would be tolerant, courageous, calm and generous
Qualities of rajas: jealous, judgemental, indecisive, anxious, manipulative, compulsive, aggressive
Rajas carry the energy of agitation, movement, and passion. Comparing to sattva, it is considered to be a weaker energy. This energy brings change, but often also misleads to external pleasures. Rajas in excess induce hyperactivity, fatigue and may cause compulsive behaviors.
Qualities of tamas: dishonest, depressed, dull, lethargic, apathetic, submissive, prone to addiction
Tamas is the energy of inertia and contradiction. It encompasses resisting to positive change and builds walls between the person's wishes and actions. It is considered to be the weakest of the three gunas.
The Ojas
Ojas (Sanskrit) - bodily strength, vigor, energy, ability, power; also the principle of vitality in the body, giving it both heat and action, and therefore likewise including virility or the generative power. Ojas is an energy known to be the substance for the fire of Tejas (fire, illumination). In other words, ojas is the substrate fo inner vitality, shine and charisma.
Ojas is built up by following the Three Pillars of Life: good digestion, good sleep and proper self-expression. The ojas is depleted by excessiveness, especially excessive sexual activity, worry, and stress. Ojas is considered to be the most refined by-product of digestion, carrying highly vibrating energy. It is also the finest essence of all the tissues. The process of producing ojas from found takes seven steps, the seventh step is the storage of the ojas into a target tissue.
Two types of ojas may be distinguished:
1. Para Ojas - Hridya Sthana - the oja that is stored in the heart. It is known to stimulate the sinuatrial node (the SA node). Ofter heart rhythm disorders are related to this type of oja deficiency.
2. Apara Ojas - Sarva Sharira Vyapi - is stored in small amounts all over the body. This type of oja is a component of balanced immunity.
Hoping it didn't confuse you? Stay tuned for the translations part III
References
• Practical Ayurveda: Find Out Who You Are and What You Need to Bring Balance to Your Life; Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre; Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd, 2018
• Ayurveda; Reenita Malhotra Hora; Publisher: Mandala Publishing Group, 2018
• Ayurveda für jeden Tag; dr. med. Ernst Schrott, 2003
• Ojas: the Vital Nectar of Life A. B. Bagde, R Sawant, M Nikumbh et al;
Journal of Biological & Scientific Opinion, April 2014
• Ojas definition https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ojas
•Lakshmi Ayurveda https://www.lakshmiayurveda.com.au/2019/05/ojas/
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