Sattva - Nature’s Serotonin

The beautiful science of Ayurveda gives such a simple yet logical explanation of why we suffer from stress, depression and anxiety. The answer to these modern afflictions is in Nature. Simply put everytime we fall out of sync with Nature’s rhythms we become sick. Stress takes over our mind which in turn takes over our body and then we know what happens next. At some point I am sure we all have experienced stress and its consequences - not fun right ? In the past I have had my fair share of these afflictions too. But then I discovered Ayurveda and my life was put upside down in the best way possible.

As I progressed with my studies, I learnt that Ayurveda speaks of three Gunas (qualities) that pervades all of Nature and that shape our mind and thoughts. These three Gunas are known as Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Briefly, Rajas is movement, agitation and passion, and Tamas is inertia, dullness and darkness. While we need Rajas and Tamas but not in excess, Sattva is the quality we should strive for and seek in everything we do in life. We should cultivate Sattva with our food, thoughts, sensory impressions, relationships, lifestyle, and work.

But what is this Sattva I used to ask myself. Is it even real or is it just an esoteric thought?

Then I learnt that Sattva is purity, luminosity, truth, honesty, goodness, virtue, equanimity. Still this Guna theory struck me as such an abstract concept difficult to grasp and realize. Nevertheless, I wanted to allow it the benefit of the doubt and try seeking this quality. So I started cultivating Sattva with food. Ayurveda says our kitchen can be a pharmacy if we choose the right ingredients right? Sattvic food includes fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, ghee, cow milk, rice, mung beans, nuts, seeds, and freshly cooked meals. But Sattva can also be cultivated by taking in positive impressions and literally feeding the senses with pure impressions like the color of the rising or setting sun; the different shades of blue of the sky; the birds singing; the deep green color of fresh grass; the vibrant colors of flowers and their sweet fragrance. Sattva can pervade all of our body from head to toe. We can breathe it, eat it, feel it, touch it and live it.

It took patience, perseverance and commitment to finally experience the magnitude of Sattva and once I experienced it I wanted more and more of it.

But what does it feel like you may ask? Well, for me I know I am experiencing Sattva when I find myself smiling for no particular reason, when my emotional heart expands, when I feel light inside and a sense of peace pervades all of my being, when smiling to a complete stranger feels simply good. When I feel limitless I know I am in a state of Sattva. WOW! Mind Blowing ! Isn’t it? This is how I finally experienced Sattva. I took the liberty to rename Sattva Nature's serotonin. Sattva is Nature’s divine Amrita and you should not be afraid of taking in too much of it. Finally, what has Sattva taught me ? It has taught me to cook with love, to honor my body, to soften, to be content and appreciate what has been given to me, to trust my Guru and ultimately trust the Divine. We should make every day a Sattva day!