The looking glass called sattva

As the New Year approaches, we are busy preparing for holiday time, clearing up work, making plans for 2013 ...

This year has been quite intense for me, and I assume it is so for many people.

Is that true?

It is really interesting, as I write this, I realise how easily and comfortably we make assumptions. And how obstinately we act on our assumptions. The nature of the mind to hook on to a certain perspective of reality and base all its actions and experiences on this perspective. How much we suffer, how insensitive we are of somebody's suffering (because we have not seen it or experienced what they have been through), how careless we are with our opinions and judgments. Whatever efforts I make, I cannot completely understand and grasp your reality, your experience, your feelings and emotions. I can say “I understand how you feel”, we always say that but we really cannot! Either we don’t know that we don’t really understand or most often we are lying to please/comfort.

In the fourth chapter of the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali presents a very beautiful sutra :
Vastu Saamye Citta Bhedhaat Tayah Vibhakthah Panthaah (YS 4.15)

Meaning, the object being the same, because the mind is different, we see the object differently. The path the mind takes to comprehend an object or a particular reality is different for each person. So the object appears to be different, sometimes this difference can be like the difference between the sun and the moon!

To understand this Sutra, we have to look at the whole process of perception as our entire life is shaped by how we perceive reality. It is a given that we do not perceive any reality as it is. Always distorted. And what distorts our perception of a reality? It will be interesting to explore.

Let us now zoom into one specific recent experience that left us upset, angry or irritable - rather reactive in some way.

Recollect the incident in all its details.

Make a simple note of what you saw/heard/felt etc.

Continue to hold the incident in your mind's eye and watch carefully for everything that has come in the way between you and the incident/person.

You will be able to recollect some previous experiences (similar to that situation, relating to that person) flood back - see these impressions and make note of them.

What you know of that person/situation begin to surface, make notes. (we are capable of coming to conclusions with very minimal or no information whatsoever, do you see that?)

Your previously held judgements crop up - acknowledge them, make notes.

Beliefs of yourself/other may also be seen if you waited and watched carefully - these are more deep-rooted and often remain in the unconscious realm.

You slowly begin to connect with layers and layers of impressions that have gathered on to the mental lens that have been activated by this incident. Every bit of your current reaction can be in some way traced back to your past.

And it does not end there, each subsequent experience has a cumulative effect leaving behind more impressions that further colour and confuse our perception and direct our actions keeping us perpetually stuck in a vicious cycle.

But wait, perhaps there is something more to it.

You do realize that you don’t always feel or react so badly, there are times when such an incident has not brought up so much of reaction in your mind. So, it is not the impressions alone, it is the state of mind at that time.

If the mind is already agitated and dispersed, that energy - Rajas - dominates the mind and causes all the reactions to surface. If the mind is already clouded and confused - Tamas - it withdraws but gathers the impressions and begins to ruminate on them, postponing reactions to a later time.  But when Sattva dominates, it sees through all the layers very clearly because the mind is neither too agitated nor clouded.

The very essence of yoga - the way Patanjali defines yoga - Citta Vrtti Nirodha (YS 1.2) is about clearing the mind so that our perception is not clouded or distorted by pre-existing impressions. This can only happen when Sattva prevails, when Rajas is controlled and Tamas is reduced.

Then the task becomes simple, quieten the mind, clear it, clean up past impressions through practice and maintain a stable, peaceful state of mind that will not succumb to the old patterns of habit.

Awareness is key, the only way being regular practice.

When we cultivate pure, non-judgemental awareness, we see through the layers of impressions, the whole process more clearly.

Then, perhaps we can hold our truth more lightly.

We maybe able to empathise better with others.

We may not want to thrust our opinions and judgements on them so carelessly or ruthlessly.

We may grow more compassionate and understanding,

We may get closer to reality, to what is.

“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes everyday - unless you are too busy, then you should sit for an hour.”                - old Zen adage

Best wishes,
Saras