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Namah Yogic insights into human psychology

concept. Well, the validation is everywhere of work one must take up. A predominantly
to be seen. In nature right from the atoms sattvic man may be very good when it
to the galaxies, from the tiniest microscopic comes to research and scholarly work, as
cell to the most complex organism, we see an administrator he would be a fair and just
these three basic forces at work whose names person, but he will fail miserably if he is called
are, the static or potential energy which is upon to battle and bring about great changes
the energy at rest or inertia, the kinetic or and reforms in society. Similarly a rajasic
dynamic energy or the energy of motion and, person may be a warrior for a good cause
the balancing or neutralising energy or the but at any given time his asuric tendencies,
energy of equilibrium. The entire creation which he has just left behind, canupsurge,
is a handiwork of these three basic energies creating in him an ambitious man without
that can combine in various ways. According scruples and a rudimentary ethical sense. But
to the science of yoga all nature is built on a the same man combined with a sattvic energy
single basic plan. will be a warrior with great compassion in
his heart. His rajasic nature will call him to
The same energies when applied to non- battles outside but his sattvic nature will
material aspects of creation, which include simultaneously urge him to undertake the
human psychology, are termed as tamasic, inner battles directed towards self-conquest,
rajasic, andsattvic. It is the varied combination thereby creating the ideal noble human type
of these three basic fundamental modes of of the ancient Indian Aryan society.
energy in nature that builds the different
types of humanity. What has been described We can limit our consideration of these
here is the predominant type but the various types of humanity here since Nature
combinations can be many times more. is now going through a great upheaval. She
This implies a certain degree of plasticity of is upturning the soil of human nature in a
thought and understanding in the application massive and unprecedented way, creating
of this principle in real-time. Just as a fresh a terrible mixture of all kinds. Therefore
fruit is predominantly sattvic but turns tamasic what we see in times as these are more and
when stale or when unripe, so too humanity more mixed types. But this mixture is simply
also can regress or evolve or simply be moved a breaking of the past moulds since she is
with a different impulsion than its original preparing for a new leap, for the emergence
nature. of a new type of humanity that will go beyond
the sattvic type to a greater and greater degree
This can create a certain confusion of being, a of spiritualised humanity or the deva type
mixture of dharmas, so to speak. This truth too rather than the mere human, even if it be an
has deep implications in determining the line exalted type of humanity.

Dr. Alok Pandey, an editor of NAMAH and a member of SAIIIHR, is a doctor practising at the
Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

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