Class Theme- Week 3 April 2015- The Guna and Duhkha

So now I have a better grasp of Duhkha, last week’s theme, how can I become more aware of the situations that give rise to it so I can try to act differently?  The Heart of Yoga by TKV Desikachar mentions the play of the Guna as relevant.  These are states of mind.  At one end is Tamas, heaviness, and at the other is Rajas, restlessness.  Both can draw Duhkha.  Absence of either is described as Sattva, likened to clarity. 

Whether Tamas and Rajas are good states of mind to be in will depend on the situation.  If a troubling external event arises in our lives, a sense of tamas can prevent us from reacting hastily without clarity, which could create Duhkha.  At times when we feel a bit stuck and in a rut, a sense of rajas can spur us out of our stupor into action and back to better balance in our life.

So again, an awareness of what state we are experiencing and what purpose it is serving us- help or hindrance- can provide us with more clarity- sattva.  And we can take this into our asana practice and be aware of the states of mind we take into our postures and whether they are an asset or a liability.  Start with noticing, and then you have the chance to work on change, even if it takes awhile!