Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Vata
The Ayurvedic Dosha comprised of air and ether elements, regulating your nervous system and all movements within your body. When Vata is out of balance, you experience constipation, bloating, anxiety, irregular periods, and other related issues. One of the three bodily humors, the combination of air and space, it is responsible for all movement in…
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Upavedas
The secondary Vedic teachings that go into four technical subjects: the arts (Gandharvaveda), warfare (Dhanurveda), health (Ayurveda), and architecture (Sthapartaveda).
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Tejas
The subtle essence related to radiance and glow. It makes you intelligent and courageous. The pure essence of the fire element, the superfine essence of pitta dosha, which governs the transformation of matter into energy and of food, water, and air into consciousness. The essence of the fire element. The result of the perfect digestion…
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Tamas
The universal quality representing inertia, inactivity, and lethargy. Tamasic foods include processed and frozen meals, refined sugar and carbs, meat, alcohol, onions, and garlic. One of the three gunas of Prakruti or Nature,- its characteristics are darkness, inertia, and ignorance, it is responsible for sleep, drowsiness, dullness, unconsciousness. The quality of nature that reflects dullness,…
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Self-actualization
The achievement of your full potential through creativity, independence, spontaneity, and a grasp of the real world. The highest level of personality development. A self-actualized person recognizes his or her roles in life and uses personal strengths and attributes to the fullest. The successful development and use of personal talents and abilities. According to Maslow,…
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Sattva
The universal quality representing purity, clarity, and potential energy. It illuminates you with knowledge, wisdom, compassion, and enlightenment. Fresh vegetables, fruit, certain grains, and easily digestible meals are considered sattvic. One of the three gunas of Prakruti, sattva denotes light, clarity, purity of perception,-it is the essence of pure awareness. The quality of nature reflected…
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Rasa
The Ayurvedic term for taste. The six tastes are sweet (madhura), sour (amla), salty (lavana), bitter (tikta), pungent (katu), and astringent (kashaya). The taste of a substance. The six tastes of sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent are used in Ayurveda to classify the quality of foods and herbs. Also used to mean the…
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Rajas
The universal quality representing movement, passion, and energy. It fills you with power, but excess can lead to aggression. Stimulants, nonvegetarian foods, and pungent tastes are considered rajasic. One of the three universal qualities (gunas) of Prakruti, Cosmic Creativity. Rajas is active, mobile, dynamic. The quality of nature responsible for movement, passion and energy.
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Prana
The subtle essence related to vital life force and breath. It makes you flexible and creative. Life force, the energy that gives life to one’s being. The vital life energy. Without it, life cannot exist. The flow of cellular intelligence from one cell to another. Equivalent to the Oriental Ch’i or Ki. The subtle essence…
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Prakriti
The Doshic constitution you were born with, determined at the moment of conception. For example, you may have been born primarily Kapha, secondarily Vata, and lastly Pitta. One’s constitution, set the moment the soul enters the being at conception.
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