In day by day life, we regularly 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, every little thing has two features. If there’s 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 instances and the way we will 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 likely one of the elementary qualities of nature from which every little thing 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 barely 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 every little thing in its gross or clear kind. The side of nature that brings stability and a whole sense of relaxation or rest 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 totally different instances 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. Consequently, they turn out to be unbalanced, each in day by day routine and at work.
2. Lazy and Uninteresting
Tamas Guna will increase rigidity and inertia in an individual, making them lazy and uninteresting. They consistently want sleep and relaxation. On the subject of work, they turn out to be moody. Whether or not the work is essential or not, they do it solely after they really feel prefer it.
However, they usually crave sensual pleasures and are energetic 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 grasp what is nice or dangerous for them. On this state, the thoughts turns into confused whereas making selections. Due to this fact, tamasic individuals usually really feel puzzled and unsure.
4. Loneliness loving and disconnected
A rise in Tamas Guna can improve ego. Tamasic individuals might take into account 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 aspect of an individual. It could trigger intense anger and promote harmful actions.
When an individual is overwhelmed by anger, nothing else appears to matter, they usually might act in dangerous or harmful methods.
6. Irregular food plan
Tamasic persons are usually keen on junk meals. They might want alcohol, eggs, purple meat, and dry or tasteless meals, and normally present much less curiosity in contemporary, home-cooked meals.
Notice: Naturally, Tamas Guna, together with the opposite two Gunas (Rajas and Sattva), is current in all of us. These traits turn out to be clearly seen solely when Tamas Guna is dominant.
Optimistic features of tamas guna
Primarily based on the traits described above, it could appear that there isn’t any want for Tamas Guna in an individual. Nevertheless, Tamas Guna can be important in sure features of life.
1. Rest
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 loosen up and recharge the physique.
Tamas Guna is chargeable 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 instances of an imbalanced root chakra, Tamas Guna is usually inspired.
It is a vital ingredient within the religious journey. With out Tamas Guna, a yogi can’t progress additional in spirituality.
Kinds of Tamas
The tamasic kind of persona might be categorised into three sorts:
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
- Robust want 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 mild. Mild represents movement and is the alternative of darkness (or Tamas Guna).
Together with the next yogic practices and life-style modifications can assist cut back extra Tamas Guna and steadiness its proportion among the many three Gunas.
1. By Including vinyasa in asana follow
To cut back Tamas, add extra motion to your follow.
Yoga asanas are invigorating and convey movement to the nonetheless physique. Vinyasa provides a larger 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 circulate in your follow.
- The Solar Salutation sequence works nicely when Tamas Guna is elevated.
- Ahead bends are usually extra stress-free than backbends. Should you really feel lazy or uninteresting, practise extra backbends akin to 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 can cut back anger, which is a standard attribute of Tamas Guna’s dominance.
3. Adopting shifting meditation strategies
Tamo Guna is important to enter meditation, however extra Tamas can result in unintended sleep throughout follow.
Meditation strategies that contain mild motion assist cut back the consequences of extra Tamas Guna. Examples embody strolling meditation, shifting meditation, and practising mindfulness whereas doing day by day duties or family chores.
4. Keep away from oversleeping or sitting for lengthy hours
Correct sleep is crucial 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 improve Tamas Guna. Taking quick 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 an alternative of passive leisure, have interaction in sports activities or different bodily actions. This step by step reduces laziness and extra Tamas.
6. Change your food plan
The meals impacts well being, the way in which you behave, and is chargeable for your vitality degree. So it’s referred to as,
You’re what you eat.
Tamasic meals will increase Tamas Guna. This contains purple 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 response to Ayurveda, tamasic meals is just not helpful for bodily or psychological well being.
Tamasic meals drains prana and fills the physique with adverse vitality. Keep away from these meals and select sattvic meals which are gentle, contemporary, pure, and nutritious.
7. Spend time with nature
Nature is a supply of vitality and therapeutic. Take breaks from day by day routines and spend time in pure environment. Nature helps restore steadiness and vitality.
Conclusion
A balanced proportion of all three Gunas is crucial for creating a constructive perspective and a wholesome persona.
Tamas is a top quality of stability and groundedness, however when it turns into extreme, it may possibly negatively have an effect on one’s persona. With somewhat willpower and self-awareness, you’ll be able to work on tamasic tendencies and cut back extra Tamas Guna.
