In each day life, we frequently expertise moments of heaviness laziness, dullness, oversleeping, lack of motivation, or psychological confusion. In yogic philosophy, these states are linked to Tamas Guna, the standard of inertia and darkness.
In nature, all the things has two features. If there may be movement in an object, rigidity can be part of its nature. The states of motionlessness, rigidity, and inertia exist due to Tamo Guna in nature.
Understanding Tamas Guna helps us recognise why we really feel caught at occasions and the way we are able to gently transfer in the direction of steadiness.
Tamas (Tamo Guna)
Tamo, derived from the basis phrase “Tama,” represents darkness, and Guna means high quality. Tamo Guna is without doubt one of the basic qualities of nature from which all the things has emerged.
In nature, it exists together with the opposite two Gunas as Trigunas and helps kind matter, inertia, and the static vitality of objects. It’s generally referred to as Tamas, and an extra of Tamo Guna in an individual is thought to be a tamasic persona.
A tamasic persona refers to these qualities in an individual that result in carelessness, recklessness, overthinking, and overindulgence. The qualities of Tamas Guna come up from negligence, delusion, and ignorance.
Nevertheless, it can’t be mentioned that Tamas is simply an indication of negativity.
Among the many three constructing blocks that represent Manas (the thoughts), Tamo Guna combines with Rajas and Sattva Guna to assist manifest all the things in its gross or clear kind. The facet of nature that brings stability and an entire sense of relaxation or leisure for some time can be part of Tamo Guna.
Learn how to Determine the dominance of tamas
To recognise Tamas Guna, one must analyse oneself. Observe your actions, reactions, and thought processes in numerous conditions and at completely different occasions of the day. You’ll then discover when Tamas Guna is dominant in your nature.
The next traits are generally seen when Tamas Guna is dominant:
1. Careless and unbalanced
A tamasic particular person neither cares about themselves nor about others. They don’t take note of what they’re doing or how they’re performing an motion. Because of this, they develop into unbalanced, each in each day routine and at work.
2. Lazy and Boring
Tamas Guna will increase rigidity and inertia in an individual, making them lazy and boring. They consistently need sleep and relaxation. In terms of work, they develop into moody. Whether or not the work is vital or not, they do it solely after they really feel prefer it.
Alternatively, they typically crave sensual pleasures and are lively primarily in issues of lust or when their wishes are fulfilled.
3. Confused
The dominance of Tamas Guna will increase ignorance. A tamasic particular person is unable to know what is sweet or dangerous for them. On this state, the thoughts turns into confused whereas making choices. Due to this fact, tamasic individuals typically really feel puzzled and unsure.
4. Loneliness loving and disconnected
A rise in Tamas Guna can enhance ego. Tamasic individuals could think about themselves superior and keep away from the corporate of others. This results in disconnection and a way of loneliness.
5. Stuffed with anger
The dominance of Tamas Guna brings out the darker facet of an individual. It will possibly trigger intense anger and promote harmful actions.
When an individual is overwhelmed by anger, nothing else appears to matter, they usually could act in dangerous or harmful methods.
6. Irregular eating regimen
Tamasic individuals are typically keen on junk meals. They might choose alcohol, eggs, pink meat, and dry or tasteless meals, and normally present much less curiosity in contemporary, home-cooked meals.
Be aware: Naturally, Tamas Guna, together with the opposite two Gunas (Rajas and Sattva), is current in all of us. These traits develop into clearly seen solely when Tamas Guna is dominant.
Constructive features of tamas guna
Primarily based on the traits described above, it could appear that there is no such thing as a want for Tamas Guna in an individual. Nevertheless, Tamas Guna can be important in sure features of life.
1. Leisure
At some moments in life, we’d like a break from all actions. We want moments of silence with ourselves. Equally, after a day’s work, we’d like sleep to chill out and recharge the physique.
Tamas Guna is liable for sleep and relaxation. With out this Guna, an individual would stay stressed and unsettled.
2. Grounded and steady
To practise yoga, an individual must be steady and grounded. Tamas Guna inside helps keep grounding and stability throughout yogic practices. In circumstances of an imbalanced root chakra, Tamas Guna is commonly inspired.
It is a crucial aspect within the religious journey. With out Tamas Guna, a yogi can’t progress additional in spirituality.
Kinds of Tamas
The tamasic sort of persona could be categorized into three varieties:
1. Pasava (Sharing traits of animal)
- Aggressive or forbidding nature
- Lack of intelligence
- Extreme sexual wishes
- Extreme sleep and lack of self-discipline
2. Matsya (Sharing traits of fish)
- Cowardly and timid nature
- Lack of intelligence
- Greed for meals
- Sturdy need for water
- Fixed anger
3. Vanaspatya (Sharing traits of vegetable life)
- Laziness
- Low intelligence
- Fixed starvation and overeating
- Dependence on teams
Learn how to cut back extra tamas guna
To start with, there was nothing, nothing however the silence of infinite darkness. Then got here the sunshine!
E-book of Genesis
To flee darkness, one must make an effort that brings gentle. Gentle represents movement and is the alternative of darkness (or Tamas Guna).
Together with the next yogic practices and life-style modifications might help cut back extra Tamas Guna and steadiness its proportion among the many three Gunas.
1. By Including vinyasa in asana follow
To scale back Tamas, add extra motion to your follow.
Yoga asanas are invigorating and convey movement to the nonetheless physique. Vinyasa provides a higher vary of motion to asanas, which removes rigidity and encourages exercise.
The next asana methods assist cut back Tamas Guna:
- Maintain poses for a shorter period and embody extra Vinyasa move in your follow.
- The Solar Salutation sequence works nicely when Tamas Guna is elevated.
- Ahead bends are typically extra stress-free than backbends. Should you really feel lazy or boring, practise extra backbends resembling Bow Pose and Bridge Pose.
- Minimise the time spent in Shavasana or Balasana throughout a yoga sequence.
2. By regulating breathe by way of pranayama
Pranayama vitalizes vitality within the type of Prana (life drive) in each cell of the physique. After performing Pranayama, you’ll higher conscious of your actions, your ideas, and finally, that may cut back anger, which is a standard attribute of Tamas Guna’s dominance.
3. Adopting shifting meditation methods
Tamo Guna is critical to enter meditation, however extra Tamas can result in unintended sleep throughout follow.
Meditation methods that contain mild motion assist cut back the consequences of extra Tamas Guna. Examples embody strolling meditation, shifting meditation, and practising mindfulness whereas doing each day duties or family chores.
4. Keep away from oversleeping or sitting for lengthy hours
Correct sleep is important for good well being. Nevertheless, extreme sleep makes the physique lazy and sluggish, growing Tamas Guna.
Equally, sitting in a single place for lengthy hours also can enhance Tamas Guna. Taking brief breaks and stretching the backbone helps forestall drowsiness and stiffness throughout work.
5. Change modes of leisure
These days, a lot time is spent in entrance of TVs, laptops, and video video games within the identify of leisure. This reduces bodily exercise and will increase laziness (Tamas Guna).
As a substitute of passive leisure, have interaction in sports activities or different bodily actions. This progressively reduces laziness and extra Tamas.
6. Change your eating regimen
The meals impacts well being, the way in which you behave, and is liable for your vitality stage. So it’s referred to as,
You might be what you eat.
Tamasic meals will increase Tamas Guna. This contains pink meat, eggs, alcohol, and different heavy or offensive meals. Any meals that’s overeaten, stale, or leftover additionally turns into tamasic.
Such meals promote anger, fatigue, and low immunity. In keeping with Ayurveda, tamasic meals will not be useful for bodily or psychological well being.
Tamasic meals drains prana and fills the physique with destructive vitality. Keep away from these meals and select sattvic meals which might be gentle, contemporary, pure, and nutritious.
7. Spend time with nature
Nature is a supply of vitality and therapeutic. Take breaks from each day routines and spend time in pure environment. Nature helps restore steadiness and vitality.
Conclusion
A balanced proportion of all three Gunas is important for growing a optimistic perspective and a wholesome persona.
Tamas is a high quality of stability and groundedness, however when it turns into extreme, it may well negatively have an effect on one’s persona. With just a little dedication and self-awareness, you’ll be able to work on tamasic tendencies and cut back extra Tamas Guna.