Sattva Explained

Sattva (Sanskrit: सत्त्व, meaning goodness) is one of the three guṇas or "modes of existence" (tendencies, qualities, attributes), a philosophical and psychological concept understood by the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy.[1] [2] The other two qualities are rajas (passion and activity) and tamas (destruction, chaos). Sattva is the quality of goodness, purity, positivity, truth, serenity, balance, peacefulness, and virtuousness that is drawn towards Dharma and jñāna (knowledge).[1] [3] [4]

Hinduism

Samkhya Philosophy

In Samkhya philosophy, a is one of three "tendencies, qualities": sattva, rajas and tamas. This category of qualities has been widely adopted by various schools of Hinduism for categorizing behavior and natural phenomena. The three qualities are:

In Indian philosophy, these qualities are not considered as present in either-or fashion. Rather, everyone and everything has all three, only in different proportions and in different contexts.[9] The living being or substance is viewed as the net result of the joint effect of these three qualities.[9]

According to the Samkhya school, no one and nothing is either purely sattvik or purely rajasik or purely tamasik. One's nature and behavior is a complex interplay of all of these, with each guna in varying degrees. In some, the conduct is rajasik with significant influence of sattvik guna, in some it is rajasik with significant influence of tamasik guna, and so on.[10]

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita describes sattva as a path to liberation.[11] It describes sattva as superior to the other two gunas because it brings clarity, leads to higher realms, and is without impurities, but it is also described as a cause of bondage.[12] Verse 14.6 describes sattva as:

It causes bondage, as explained in verse 14.9, by attachment to happiness.

Buddhism

Sattva, or satta in Pali language, is found in Buddhist texts, such as in Bodhi-sattva. The sattva in Buddhism means "a living being, creature, person or sentient being".[13]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Gerald James Larson. Classical Sāṃkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and Meaning . 2001. Motilal Banarsidass . 978-8120805033 . 10–18, 49, 163.
  2. James G. Lochtefeld, "Sattva", in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A–M, Vol. 2, Rosen Publishing,, p. 608
  3. Ian Whicher (1998), The Integrity of the Yoga Darśana, State University of New York Press, pp. 86–87, 124–125, 163–167, 238–243
  4. Carus, Paul. "Karma and Nirvana. Are the Buddhist Doctrines Nihilistic?" Monist 4 (1893-94): 417-439.
  5. [Joseph Alter|Alter, Joseph S.]
  6. Book: Mikel Burley . Mikel Burley . Classical Samkhya and Yoga: An Indian Metaphysics of Experience. 2007. Routledge. 978-1134159789. 101–105, 120–122, 167, 185.
  7. Ian Whicher (1998), The Integrity of the Yoga Darśana, State University of New York Press, pp. 63, 124–129, 138, 188–190
  8. Ian Whicher (1998), The Integrity of the Yoga Darśana, State University of New York Press, pp. 63, 110–112, 124–126, 163, 188
  9. James G. Lochtefeld, "Sattva", in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A–M, Vol. 2, Rosen Publishing,, p. 265
  10. Alban Widgery (1930), "The principles of Hindu Ethics", International Journal of Ethics, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 234–237
  11. Book: Sutton, Nicholas . Bhagavad-Gita . 2016-12-16 . Blurb, Incorporated . 978-1-366-61059-1 . 244 . en.
  12. Book: Sutton, Nicholas . Bhagavad-Gita . 2016-12-16 . Blurb, Incorporated . 978-1-366-61059-1 . 211–213 . en.
  13. Book: T. W. Rhys Davids. William Stede. The Pali-English Dictionary. 1905. Asian Educational Services. 978-81-206-1273-0. 154, 673.

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