is the idea or concept of separation, of division, but alone it cannot
I
manifest in phenomena. Three is a wave, a sine curve, a vibration like
light or sound. When two waves collide, a new phenomenon is created.
That is the creativity inherent in nature. Even at the subtlest level, that
of vibration and infra-atomic particles, nature's built-in wobble sets it
on an endless cycle of creation, destruction, and recreation. From three
c..:omes many.
As I said, the guna is made up of three complementary forces. They
are: tamas (mass or inertia), rajas (vibrancy or dynamism), and sattva
(luminosity or the quality of light).
Let us look at a practical example. In asana, we are trying to
broach the mass of our gross body, to break up the molecules and di
vide them into atoms that will allow our vision to penetrate within.
( )ur body resists us. It is mulish. It will not budge. Why? Because in
body tamas predominates. It has to. Body needs mass, bones need den
sity, and sinew and muscle need solidity and firmness. To be firm
fleshed is desirable; to be slack-muscled is not.
Density in bones is a virtue, but in brains it is a vice. You hear
people say, "He's thick," or "Don't be dense," because in our brain and
uervous system, rajas (dynamism and vibrancy) should predominate,
.111d density is a liability. Whereas mind is naturally quick, mercurial,
.tud slippery, body tends to heaviness, inertia, and sluggishness. An ex
lTss is unwelcome; a muscle-bound body is like a very heavy car with
.1 small engine; it will only move slowly. More than that, it takes more
\"ungy to overcome inertia than to pick up speed. For example, it is
111ore difficult to push a stationary car up to one mile per hour than to
push it from one mile per hour to two miles per hour.
With regard to asana practice, this means that initially we need to
,·xnt ourselves more as resistance is greater. Of the two aspects of
.t�aua, exertion of our body and penetration of our mind, the latter is
t'VI'IIIllally more important. Penetration of our mind is our goal, hut in
1111· lwginning to set things in motion, there is no substitute for sweat.
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