Sattva

Originating in Samkhya philosophy, sattwa is one of the three gunas of Hinduism. It is a common means, along with the other two states, of categorizing behavior and natural phenomena in Hindu philosophy. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, sattwa has been translated to mean "purity" and refers to one of three possible qualities (ie, gunas) or mental states of a person's mind. This typically implies that a person with this quality has a positive or even orderly state of mind. Such a persion is psychologically kind, calm, alert and thoughtful.

Sattwa is sometimes transliterated and spelled as satva.

The other two Vedic mental states are Rajas and Tamas.

It is used in Hindu diagnostics to assess conditions and diets in Ayurveda.

See also

Bodhisattva

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References

"The Ayurveda Encyclopedia" by Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha

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