Make the Most of Sattva

Sri Saradamma

The mind is always a mixture of rajas, tamas and sattva. The components are always changing and one is never wholly rajasic or tamasic. When I say that someone is tamasic or rajasic I mean that that is the dominant guna. The other two are still present, but they are less noticeable. Pure sattva, or suddha sattva is not really a state of mind at all; it is only another name for the Self. The jnani does not have a mind but one can say that he is permanently in the state of suddha sattva. The mind is really only the alteration of rajas and tamas. When sattva predominates it means that the mind has quietened down and that the Self is beginning to manifest.

When one starts to meditate, the dominant guna may change frequently. When rajas or tamas predominate it is often difficult or impossible to meditate properly. When a period of sattva comes one should make the most of it and spend as much time as possible in meditation.
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The sattvic thought-free state is quite different. In this state, there is peace, bliss and a full awareness of consciousness. This state is difficult to attain and usually lasts only a few minutes. If one can reach this state regularly every day, then it is not necessary to meditate all day long. If you can sustain it for half and hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening then that is all the formal sitting meditation that one needs to do.