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The three subtle basic components (triguns) of Sattva, Raja and Tama are the very
fabric of creation. Unknown to modern sciences, they permeate through all living and nonliving, tangible and intangible things. The vibrations emitted by anything are dependent
on its predominant subtle basic component. This also influences the behaviour of all
things. The proportion of these components in human beings can only be changed by
spiritual practice.
The 3
components
Characteristics
Adjective
Purity and
Sttvik
knowledge
Example
Rjasik
Ignorance and
Tmasik
inertia
We call the components subtle because they are intangible, not physical in nature and
they cannot be seen with any instruments such as the latest electronic microscopes.
Technically advanced physical instrumentation in the future too will not be able to
measure them. These three subtle basic components can only be perceived by the subtle
sense organs or our sixth sense (ESP).
The subtle basic Sattva component is the most subtle or intangible of the three subtle basic
components. It is the component nearest to divinity. Hence its predominance in a person is
characterised by happiness, contentment, virtues like patience, perseverance, ability to forgive,
spiritual yearning etc.
The subtle basic Tama component is the basest of the three. Its predominance in a person is
reflected by laziness, greed, attachment to worldly matters etc.
The subtle basic Raja component provides fuel to the other two, i.e. brings about the action. So
depending on whether a person is predominantly sttvik or tmasik the subtle
basic Raja component will bring about actions pertaining to Sattva or Tama.
Due to the intangible nature of the subtle basic Sattva, Raja and Tama components,
schools and universities that teach modern sciences are unaware that they exist. Hence
they do not include them in their curriculum. As a result, the concept of the three subtle
basic components may seem alien to some of us. However this does not discount the fact
that they pervade our entire existence and the world we live in. Depending on which one
of the three subtle-components is predominant within us, it influences how we:
React to situations
Make decisions
Make choices
Since they are not physical in nature, it is difficult to put a finger on them and give them a
physical characteristic. Through this article, we have endeavoured to give you a sense of
what these three subtle-components are about and how they influence our lives.
2. Comparison between the smallest physical elements and the three subtle
basic components
The following table gives some basic differences between the smallest physical elements
known to modern sciences and the even more basic subtle-components that are known
to Spiritual science.
Parameter
Type
Physical
Subtle or intangible
How to measure?
electron microscope
subtle-senses.
Make up
The three subtle basic components are basically intangible particles. When they are
active, i.e. when there is energy accompanying them, they appear in a wave form.
Explanation of the diagram
Colour: The subtle basic Sattva component appears yellow, the subtle basic Raja component
red and the subtle basic Tama component black in colour when perceived through highly active
sixth sense.
Wavelength: The subtle basic Raja component being the most active is reflected in its
wavelength, whereas the subtle basic Sattva component being more tranquil has a longer
wavelength. The disorganised and distorted nature of the subtle basic Tama component is
reflected in its irregular wavelength.
Amplitude: The amplitude of the Raja component is the highest as it is the most active. The
amplitude of the subtle basic Sattva component is lower and regular, whereas that of the subtle
basic Tamacomponent is low and irregular.
4. The three subtle basic components and the five Cosmic Principles
The three subtle-components also make up the five Absolute Cosmic Principles
(Panchamahbhts). The five Absolute Cosmic Principles are Absolute Earth
(Pruthvtattva), Absolute Water (patattva), Absolute Fire (Tjtattva), Absolute Air
(Vyutattva) and Absolute Ether (kshtattva) Principles. The Cosmic Principles are
intangible in nature and are the subtle most aspect of the actual elements that we can
see and feel. For example, the Absolute Water Principle is the subtlest form of the water
that goes to make up the rivers and the oceans etc. In short, the five Absolute Cosmic
Principles are the building blocks of the Universe. But they are also made up of the three
subtle basic components.
The following table shows how each Cosmic Principle differs in its composition with
regards to the proportion of the three subtle basic components.
The three subtle basic components and the five cosmic elements
Sattva
Raja
ama
Earth
10%
40%
50%
Water
20%
40%
40%
Fire
30%
40%
30%
Air
40%
40%
20%
Ether
50%
40%
10%
As you can see from the table above, the Absolute Earth Principle has the highest amount
of Tama; hence it is also the heaviest. The subtle basic Tama component limits existence,
whereas the subtle basic Sattvacomponent makes it expansive. This explains why the
Absolute Earth Principle is the most inferior among the five Cosmic Principles. It also
explains why the Absolute Ether Principle is the most subtle and sattvik and thus the most
powerful. The reduction in the Tama subtle basic component across the five Absolute
Cosmic Principles makes the elements progressively less tangible. For example, Fire is
less gross or tangible than Earth.
Humans are composed predominantly of the Absolute Earth and Absolute Water
Principles. As an individual starts evolving spiritually, he or she starts functioning at
progressively higher levels, like the Absolute Fire Principle etc. This is characterised by
a sense of radiance emanating from a spiritually evolved person. As this happens, the
individuals basic needs begin to decrease, such as the need for food and sleep. In
addition, his comprehension and capacity to perform various activities increases markedly
both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Raja
5%
1%
Regular/average places
2%
2%
Evil places
1%
1%
Raja
am
Saint
50%
30%
20%
Average man
20%
30%
50%
Evil person
10%
50%
40%
10%
30%
60%
1020%
2540%
4065
Vegetation
510%
1015%
6585
This is also one of the main reasons why the spiritual level of a person in particular
premises has more impact on the overall vibrations emanating from that place as opposed
to the premises itself. For example, if a person of the level of a Saint enters premises that
have negative vibrations due to defects in construction, it will have negligible effect on the
Saint. Thus the sciences of Feng-shui and the science of studying
premises(vstushstra) are of more relevance to persons at lower spiritual levels or those
who do not perform any spiritual practice.
Sattva
Raja
Tama
20%
40%
40%
30%
40%
30%
40%
40%
20%
50%
40%
10%
Ego
As the subtle basic Raja component is related to the functioning of the body, its proportion
is the same in all the bodies. However as you can see from the table above, there is
considerable difference between theSattva and Tama components across the various
bodies. This has a direct impact on the ability of the body to provide us sustainable and
long lasting happiness. For example, the Sattva component in the intellect body is high
compared to the physical body. Therefore the quality of the happiness we
experience when we are intellectually stimulated and satisfied is of a higher quality and
more lasting than happiness experienced due to the physical body.
The following is a graph that shows the different proportions of the three subtle basic
components within us as we increase our spiritual level through spiritual practice.
Footnotes:
1. After the 50% spiritual level, the proportion of the three components remains static. The reason
for this is that one cannot have any less than 20% Tama. If this did happen the person would
begin to dematerialise. Consequently, as long as one has a physical body the Tama component
cannot be less than 20%. However the effect of the components on the person is diluted with a
further rise in spiritual level, so much so that at the spiritual level of 80%, the effect of them is
negligible on the person. In the next sub-section we explain this dilution in detail.
2. As long as an evolved Saint of 100% spiritual level is within a physical body, He will be made up
of the three subtle basic components. As soon as He dies and leaves His body all of the three
subtle basic components become zero and the Saint merges completely with God.
In the below table, we have provided a few pointers that will help to distinguish the type
of personality that a person displays according to the predominant subtle-component.
These are just pointers to give one a basic understanding. A correct analysis of the
predominant subtle basic component in a person can only be ascertained through ones
sixth sense (ESP).
Sattvik person
Rjasik person
Tamasik person
Personality
Lazy,
defects
ends, irritable
Industrious
None
Virtues
not
but
directionless
inactive,
egotistical.
defects.
Fearless
about
death.
Main way of
Acquiring
gaining
helping
happiness
increasing
knowledge,
others,
skills,
meditation,
spiritual
Gaining
authority,
possessions
worldly
Eating,
drinking,
intercourse etc.
dep
and
towards Bliss
In relation to
others
people
being given
name
grow
spiritually.
Here
of
ideology.
4-6 hours
7-9 hours
12-15 hours
Spiritual
High
Slight
Very low
power
Footnote:
1. The exception to this is a subtle-sorcerer (mntrik) who may have a lot of spiritual strength due
to undertaking spiritual practice for evil reasons but is predominantly tamasik.
These attributes are not mutually exclusive. For example, a certain sattvik person may
need 9 hours of sleep or a tamasik person may have a virtue like tolerance. But the
persons nature is decided by the overall sum total of the virtues and defects. Hence one
should not decide about oneself or others based on one or two characteristics but the
overall picture needs to be taken into consideration.
Also it is very rare that a person is found to be entirely sattvik, rajasik or tamasik. Mostly
a person is eitherSattva-Raja or Raja-Sattva or Raja-Tama predominant. A SattvaRaja person would have characteristics of both Sattva and Raja in almost similar
proportion with a predominance of Sattva. In the case of a Raja-Sattvaperson it would be
just opposite.
Depending on the subtle-component that is most predominant within a person, they will
accordingly display that type of personality. However as much as one may dress up or
camouflage oneself behind expensive clothes and accessories and sophisticated small
talk, the basic frequencies that one emits will be based on the subtle-component that is
most predominant within one. People with advanced sixth sense can look beyond the
external veneer that people project to the world and pick up these subtle and intangible
religion
or
frequencies. As a result, they can easily tell a persons basic nature i.e. sattvik,
rajasik or tamasik and the characteristics that they are most likely to display.
A true litmus test of an individuals predominant subtle-component is when one is left to
oneself. A person generally shows his or her true colours in a situation where the person
is not being monitored and is reflected by the individuals behaviour. The following
example will help crystallise this point.
Let us take an example of a class of students in the 4th grade. They are a noisy, rowdy
bunch with a teacher who tries hard to discipline them. If the teachers voice is very firm
she has a fair chance of keeping the class quiet. As a result, the class is quiet only in her
presence. However the moment she leaves the class they are back to their mischievous
ways. This is because these children are basically rajasik andtamasik in nature.
If on the other hand there is a sattvik child in the class and his fellow students try to enlist
his participation in some incorrect act like bullying, playing a nasty prank or indulging in
cheating, the child would absolutely not be able to comply as his basic nature is sattvik.
He is more likely to get a knot in his stomach than enjoy whatever his classmates are
suggesting. He would not be able to live with himself if he did any incorrect act.
Thus rather than superficially trying to change children through moral value lectures, a
permanent change could be found if they were encouraged to do spiritual practice and
were brought up in a spiritually conducive environment that would increase
their Sattva component.
Food
Sttvik
Rjasik
Tmasik
Wheat, cucumber,
(ghee), cinnamon,
nuts
Violet
Colour
Natural fibre such as
cotton, silk, cowhide
Clothes (material)
Hymns written by Saints,
Enlightening society to
Music
spiritual understanding in
to the world
word
Books
Seekers of God practicing
spiritual practice
harming of society
a pastime
Company and
entertainment
Spiritual growth takes
Gathering worldly
couples relationship,
with expectation
The principle behind protecting oneself against a ghost is to increase ones sttvikt. As
ghosts are tamasik, they cannot tolerate highly sattvik environments or people. It is for
this reason they simply cannot possess a higher level Saint or a Guru.
Refer to the article on Why does a possessed person manifest when in contact with a
higher sattvikinfluence?
9. In summary
The key points to take away from this article are:
The Sattva component can be increased through spiritual practice along with dissociating
oneself fromRaja and Tama influences as much as possible.
The company that we keep is a strong influence in helping us in our spiritual practice.
Ghosts take advantage of Tama predominant environments and people to carry out their
activities of harming society and reducing Righteousness (Dharma) in the world.