2008年08月09日
Sattvic vs Rajasic story
A fisherman was lying in the sun on a beach, dozing. He had finished his fishing for the day' he had his lunch, and now it was time for his rest.
A businessman noticed him lying down lazily, and asked, "why are you not at work today?"
"I have finished my work. I went out in my little boat this morning, caught some fish, sold some, cooked and ate some; now it is time to rest, time for my siesta," said the fisherman.
"But you could catch some more fish, couldn't you?" asked the businessman.
"Why should I do that?" asked the fisherman in surprise.
"Then you could have more money, buy a bigger boat with an engine which would carry much larger nets and catch even more fish" replied the businessman.
"Why?" asked the fisherman.
"Well, then you can have a fleet of boats, set up a company, and when it's successful, you can sell it and make lots of money," said the businessman.
"Then what?" The fisherman was at a loss.
"Then you can retire and lie on a beach without any worries, forever," insisted the businessman.
"But I am already doing exactly that now. I am having my siesta. I have no worries about the future. I am happy, very happy. I have enough, and enough is enough for me. I am blessed with the sea and the sunshine and plenty of time to enjoy life. Why would I go to all that trouble?"
The businessman, at first speechless, soon went away smiling.
A businessman noticed him lying down lazily, and asked, "why are you not at work today?"
"I have finished my work. I went out in my little boat this morning, caught some fish, sold some, cooked and ate some; now it is time to rest, time for my siesta," said the fisherman.
"But you could catch some more fish, couldn't you?" asked the businessman.
"Why should I do that?" asked the fisherman in surprise.
"Then you could have more money, buy a bigger boat with an engine which would carry much larger nets and catch even more fish" replied the businessman.
"Why?" asked the fisherman.
"Well, then you can have a fleet of boats, set up a company, and when it's successful, you can sell it and make lots of money," said the businessman.
"Then what?" The fisherman was at a loss.
"Then you can retire and lie on a beach without any worries, forever," insisted the businessman.
"But I am already doing exactly that now. I am having my siesta. I have no worries about the future. I am happy, very happy. I have enough, and enough is enough for me. I am blessed with the sea and the sunshine and plenty of time to enjoy life. Why would I go to all that trouble?"
The businessman, at first speechless, soon went away smiling.
2008年08月07日
Sattvic, Rajasic, Tamasic 1/2
From Satish Kumar's book, Spiritual Compass
The Three Qualities.
Sattvic is buoyant and shining
Rajasic is stimulating and moving
Tamasic is heavy and dominating
The concept of the 3 qualities was developed as part of the philosophy and practice of Ayurveda, the traditional Indian health system dating back nearly 5,000 years. Ayurveda is a way of cultivating and maintaining our personal and social health as well as the health of the planet, and is still widely practiced in India.
In Ayurveda, physical well being is dependent on two interconnected aspects: on the one hand, a healthy mind is the prerequisite of a healthy body, and on the other, without a healthy society and a healthy environment, personal health will remain a distant dream.
All objects, all thoughts, all actions and all relationships have one or the other of these three qualities or tendencies.
Time, too, can be understood in terms of these three qualities. Living in the here and now, acting spontaneously and unselfconsciously, responding to a situation as it is and seeing the present moment as a beautiful moment is sattvic. In sattvic time there is no judgement, no gloss, no interpretation, for these belong either to the past or to the future; they are part of reflecting on what has already happened or planning what is to come. Living in the present moment, being satisfied with what is now, and feeling a sense of gratitude for all the gifts of the moment, is sattvic.
Part 2 tomorrow
The Three Qualities.
Sattvic is buoyant and shining
Rajasic is stimulating and moving
Tamasic is heavy and dominating
The concept of the 3 qualities was developed as part of the philosophy and practice of Ayurveda, the traditional Indian health system dating back nearly 5,000 years. Ayurveda is a way of cultivating and maintaining our personal and social health as well as the health of the planet, and is still widely practiced in India.
In Ayurveda, physical well being is dependent on two interconnected aspects: on the one hand, a healthy mind is the prerequisite of a healthy body, and on the other, without a healthy society and a healthy environment, personal health will remain a distant dream.
All objects, all thoughts, all actions and all relationships have one or the other of these three qualities or tendencies.
Time, too, can be understood in terms of these three qualities. Living in the here and now, acting spontaneously and unselfconsciously, responding to a situation as it is and seeing the present moment as a beautiful moment is sattvic. In sattvic time there is no judgement, no gloss, no interpretation, for these belong either to the past or to the future; they are part of reflecting on what has already happened or planning what is to come. Living in the present moment, being satisfied with what is now, and feeling a sense of gratitude for all the gifts of the moment, is sattvic.
Part 2 tomorrow
