Mind is only the medium for all thoughts - but it does not itself generate the thoughts. Vedaanta says that the Prime Mover (engine) for all thoughts in the mind is Maayaa, which exists in every mind in the form of its three attributes (called Gunas in Sanskrit), Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Even gods have Maayaa (that is, the three Gunas) in their minds.
Because of these three Gunas, the mind constantly experiences modifications (thoughts).
These three Gunas give rise to certain characteristic of their own as given below:
- Sattva - gives rise to tranquility, purity, knowledge, joy, creativity, etc
- Rajas – gives rise to activity, desire, restlessness, attraction, repulsion etc
- Tamas gives rise to inaction, dullness, delusion, laziness, jealousy, etc.
These three Gunas are present in every mind simultaneously at all times, but at any one point in time, one of them subdues the other two and rises up. The nature of the predominating "Guna" determines the nature of the transformation of the mind. When Sattva predominates, "Sattvic" qualities (peace, tranquility, creativity, etc) develop. When Rajas predominates, "Rajasic" qualities (accounting for every type of activity in a person) develop. When Tamas predominates, "Tamasic" qualities (laziness, procrastination, sleepiness, etc) develop. The predominance of a Guna determines how a person reacts to a stimulus.
This predominance is determined by our Svabhaava (nature) and also the purity of the air that we breathe and the nature of the food that we consume.
The next thought is about “Ups and downs in life”
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