Namaste,

The following is from Pt. Narasimha Rao's recently published public facebook post. I was thoroughly impressed with this post! Doesn't it clearly show which chakra deals with what aspect of the personality and the different manifestations of Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas in them as well as when bakthi yoga is applicable, when karma, when jnana and when Raja-yoga?

Thanks,

Viraja

Now for the article:

Phases in Spiritual Evolution
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Our subtle self is made of 5 subtle elements - earth, water, fire, air and space, in decreasing order of density. These are controlled by 5 chakras, from Mooladhara chakra to Visuddhi chakra. Let us see the qualities that manifest in a spiritual seeker as each element is influenced by each of 3 gunas. Please note that people may purify different elements in different order.
* * *
Earth element governed by Mooladhara chakra is about structure, stability and habits.
When there is predominant Tamas there, one may be stuck in laziness, unwise habits and harmful routines. One may struggle to maintain regularity in spiritual sadhana.
When there is predominant Rajas there, one may passionately engage in some practices and routines and fluctuate between obsession and disappointment, both caused by high expectations.
When there is predominant Sattwa there, one may engage in regular and contented practices. One's expctations become less self-centered and one may not get disheartened if expectations are not fulfilled.
Karma yoga is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by performing regular actions - whether serving others, reading books and contemplating, doing rituals or whatever - and transitioning from selfish actions to selfless ones without attachment to results.
* * *
Water element governed by Swadhishthana chakra is about harmony, sense of belonging, emotionality and attachment.
When there is predominant Tamas there, one may be stuck in stagnant and self-serving emotional attachment to a group/path/guru/deity.
When there is predominant Rajas there, one may be passionately and emotionally attached to a group/path/guru/deity and one's attachment may fluctuate between selfish and unselfish motives.
When there is predominant Sattwa there, one may possess stable and steadfast attachment to a group/path/guru/deity, without any self-serving motives.
Bhakti yoga is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by infusing actions with feeling and devotion - whether for a group or a path or a guru or a deity - and transitioning from self-centered feelings to selfless ones of giving oneself up without any expectations.
* * *
Fire element governed by Manipoora chakra is about will power, esteem, mastery and ability.
When there is predominant Tamas there, one may pursue self-serving notions of esteem, ability and power over others.
When there is predominant Rajas there, one may passionately pursue notions of esteem, ability and power over others and oneself, driven by a mixture of selfish and selfless motives.
When there is predominant Sattwa there, one is in a focused, contented and selfless pursuit of power over one's own vasanas and instincts.
Raja yoga is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by channeling one's self-esteem and sense of control/power to develop self-control over one's own vasanas and transitioning from a selfish sense of power to a selfless one that looks inward.
* * *
Air element governed by Anahata chakra (litereal meaning: unbound/unconstrained) is about expansiveness, empathy and identifying with all.
When there is predominant Tamas there, one's own limited agendas outweigh empathy for others, their feelings and needs.
When there is predominant Rajas there, one fluctuates between empathy for others and one's own agendas.
When there is predominant Sattwa there, one instinctively empathizes with others and one's "own" happiness and well-being stop being much more important than those of others. The gap between "I" and "others" narrows considerably.
Jnana yoga (especially viveka or discrimination) is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by channeling one's discrimination and wisdom to identify, downplay and overcome agendas of limited self, increase empathy for others and expand one's self-identification to the unlimited Self.
One word of caution here: Theoretical knowledge of pseudo-Vedanta and repeating like a parrot that all is Self will not increase sattwa in air element. There is no way other than de-identifying with one's own needs and feeling emppathy for others around one.
* * *
Space element governed by Visuddhi chakra (litereal meaning: purity by absence) is about subtlety, absolute lightness and just "being" - being devoid of agendas and notions.
When there is predominant Tamas there, seeds of many agendas lie scattered in one's subtlest core existence.
When there is predominant Rajas there, seeds of some agendas lie hidden in one's subtlest core existence.
When there is predominant Sattwa there, one's subtle core existence is devoid of any considerable agendas - explicit or hidden.
Jnana yoga (especially Ishwara pranidhana or complete surrender) is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by completely surrendering to the Supreme and ridding oneself of any notions of "I need to be/experience/do so and so thing".
One word of caution here: Even tremendous viveka (discrimination) and deep empathy for all will not increase sattwa in space element. Concepts and notions keep arising in the space of consciousness. Even selfless notions and agendas prevent a state of "pure being devoid of notions". There is no way other than complete surrender to the will of the Supreme - "sarvadharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraja" (leave all dharmas and take refuge in Me).