|
One method of balancing the three humors is to move from their tamasic and rajasic sides to their satvic (spiritual) side. It is usually not possible to transcend ones predominant humor, but one can move to its higher level of functioning.
For example, a kapha (water) type can move from greed, a tamasic emotion, to devotion, a satvic emotion; this transforms an emotional disease tendency to a power of health and enlightenment.
Without satva, one can not perceive anything at all. All of us contain various degrees of these three qualities, just as we all have the three humors.
We should examine our mental constitution according to the proportion of the three qualities, satva, rajas and tamas in ourselves.
This will give us a better idea of how to improve our minds and balance our disease tendency through Yoga and the cultivation of character.
When we combine the three qualities and the three humors, the following picture of mental development in human beings emerges:
- Each humor is divided according to the three qualities.
- No humor is better than the others in terms of the mental nature.
- The qualities vary, but higher and lower aspects exist in each type.
Seven different mental types can be ascertained for each humor (like the seven different humoral types):
- Pure satva
- Pure raja
- Pure tama
- Satva-raja
- Satva-tama
- Raja-tama
- Satva-raja-tama (all three in equal proportions)
Totally pure satva (shuddha satva) gives enlightenment.
Those habits that are negative, such as disease-causing habits, should be reduced by the appropriate remedial measures.
These include:
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Mantra
- Various other forms of self-examination
- Surrender to the Divine
|
Spiritual Principles
