Tired, Restless, Clear

Samkhya describes nature as woven of three strands, the gunas. Tamas is heaviness: dullness, inertia, fog. Rajas is restlessness: drive, agitation, wanting. Sattva is clarity: lightness and steady sight. Every state of mind is a mix, with one strand leading.

The practice is to name the leading strand before you decide. A heavy mind makes choices that avoid. A restless mind makes choices that grab. A clear mind sees the matter as it is. The label does not fix the state, but it keeps you from trusting a decision made inside it.

It fits the school’s larger point: the part of you that notices is not the weather. Naming the weather gives you a little distance from it.

The late-night review

Kai reads a harsh review of his band’s new song at eleven at night. He feels a heat in his chest and starts writing a sharp reply.

He pauses and names the state: restless. He saves the draft and goes to bed. In the morning, clear, he reads the review again, sees a fair point and sends a short answer that begins with thanks.

Try this today Three times today, label your state heavy, restless or clear before you act on it.