Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that even when doing what is prescribed by the Vedas, the three qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas come into play. A man may resort to performance of rites, penance or charity. In each of these spheres of action the three qualities operate and Krishna explains how this happens.
He begins by talking about food. The Chandogya Upanishad says that when one eats pure food, one gets a good memory and a clear mind. Eating an excess of spicy food will result in one acquiring rajasic qualities like anger and impatience. Eating spoilt food or eating that which is not offered to God will result in a person acquiring tamasic qualities.
Regarding rites, a sattvic rite is done to please God. Performing rites to show off one's wealth or status or in a competitive spirit is a rajasic performance of rites. To perform rites without any belief in them, or without honouring those who help in the performance of the rites.
Penance too is of three types. Sattvic penance can be mental, oral or physical. Mental penance would be dhyana; oral would be chanting His names; physical would be to go pilgrimages or to prostrate before one's preceptor. Shortening a penance and seeking benefits through penance would make it rajasic.
Doing penance that is beyond one's means or doing it as a challenge to soemone is tamasic. Charity done at the right place and time and without expecting anything in return is sattvic. Rajasic charity is giving without enthusiasm.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C.S. Chakravarthy
H. No. 12-13-302, St. No. 9,
Lane. No. 1, Flat. No. 203,
Satya Classic Apartments,
Tarnaka, Secunderabad- 500 017
Telangana State, India.
E-mail: chakkuresearchscholar13@gmail.com
Cell: 09985732397.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He begins by talking about food. The Chandogya Upanishad says that when one eats pure food, one gets a good memory and a clear mind. Eating an excess of spicy food will result in one acquiring rajasic qualities like anger and impatience. Eating spoilt food or eating that which is not offered to God will result in a person acquiring tamasic qualities.
Regarding rites, a sattvic rite is done to please God. Performing rites to show off one's wealth or status or in a competitive spirit is a rajasic performance of rites. To perform rites without any belief in them, or without honouring those who help in the performance of the rites.
Penance too is of three types. Sattvic penance can be mental, oral or physical. Mental penance would be dhyana; oral would be chanting His names; physical would be to go pilgrimages or to prostrate before one's preceptor. Shortening a penance and seeking benefits through penance would make it rajasic.
Doing penance that is beyond one's means or doing it as a challenge to soemone is tamasic. Charity done at the right place and time and without expecting anything in return is sattvic. Rajasic charity is giving without enthusiasm.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C.S. Chakravarthy
H. No. 12-13-302, St. No. 9,
Lane. No. 1, Flat. No. 203,
Satya Classic Apartments,
Tarnaka, Secunderabad- 500 017
Telangana State, India.
E-mail: chakkuresearchscholar13@gmail.com
Cell: 09985732397.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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