dhRti is also a word with many meanings, we will
Spokensanskrit.de gives the following meanings: self-command, Resolution or Satisfaction, personified as a daughter of dakSa and wife of dharma or as a s’akti, firm bearing, holding, steadiness, joy, seizing, constancy, keeping, supporting, any offering or sacrifice, resolution, firmness, will, content.
A tAmasI dhRti is that bad thinking (durmedhA) which is never free of dreams, fear, sadness, despair and intoxication.
A rAjasI dhRti, craving results and with attachment,firmly bears the puruSArthAs - dharma, artha and kAma.
A sAttvikI dhRti firmly controls the manas, prANa and indriya kriyAs (the sensing-feeling part of the mind, the functions of the senses and the life-breath), through yOga and non-deviation from AcAra or practice.
Note :
- From this we can understand that our will or dhRti is beyond the senses and can command it.
- We live in a world of our own construction perceived by our senses and interpreted by our brains.
- Through yOga and discipline we can control the way we feel, breathe and what we do – that would be sAttvika. If you are concerned with the good behaviour of your manas and strive for it – that is sAttvika. “Am I thinking and feeling correctly? Are my responses and thoughts self-regulated and in control” – this is what a sAttvika is about.
- If you are concerned and committed to duty and the consequences or results of your actions – that is rAjasa. “Are the right things happening? What can I do about it” is rAjasa.
- “This is scary. Let me have a drink or have a nice daydream” is tAmasa
It is tAmasa to give in to sadness and fear, rAjasa to take charge and do something about it and sAttvika to regulate your feelings and thoughts. The guNAs circulate in us taking charge one at a time. So maybe initially we feel that terrible things are going on, then we start acting to change things and slowly change the way we feel about things and practice good thoughts, actions and feelings.
Q : Can you think of a tAmasa, rAjasa and sAttvika dhRti cycle that you have been through?
satyA
Previous Posts :
- karma
- Self-Analysis : Are you Sattvik ? : Bhagavad Gita 18.1 to 18.12
- Chapter 18.13 to 18. 17 : Causes of Karma
- Bhagavad Gita 18.18 – 18.22 : Three kinds of motives, the action triad and three kinds of knowledge (गुणसंख्यान) : Explanation and Quiz
- Bhagavad Gita : 18.20 – 18. 25 : Three kinds of knowledge and three kinds of karma, with quiz.
- Bhagavad Gita : 18:26 – 18. 28 : What sort of a doer or kartA are you? (with quiz)
- Bhagavad Gita : 18.29 – 18.32 : Three kinds of buddhi ( बुद्धि) (The part of your mind that has learned or been taught)
- Bhagavad Gita : What is Sannyasa? Three kinds of People :Chapter 18 : Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
- Bhagavad Gita Complete : satyA vyAkhyAnam
