Relationship of Yoga's Sattva Rajas Tamas to Buddhist Ayurveda's Vata Pitta Kapha

Relationship of Sattva - Tamas - Rajas to the 3 Doshas, to the 3 Poisons, to the 5 Precepts (Yama), to the 5 Elements, 5 Sense-Motor Organs, 5 Sense Objects, to the 6 Perfections (Paramitas), to the 4 Unlimited Minds

Doshas	*Tamasic*	*Rajasic*	*Sattvic*
Vata (Space – Air) 75% rajas 20% sattva 5% tamas Changeable Catabolic	1. Greed. Delusion, lack of direction, indecisiveness, sadness, grief. Precepts: 2: Stealing taking what’s not given. 4: a.) Lying. b.) Divisive gossipy speech c.) Loose-chitchat-motor-mouth speech – Leaking away Qi / Ojas – Immunity. 5: Caffeine - Cigarette - Drug addiction: techno ecstasy, MaryJane	1. Desire. Hyperactivity, fear, nervousness, anxiety, ungroundedness, space-cadet / air-head. Forgetfulness, isolation, loneliness, separation, divorce, non-filial respect: Alzheimer’s Disease *Element - Cognitive-Motor Organ:* Space: Sounds (Ears-Mouth) Air: Touch (Skin-Hands)	Clarity, creativity, lightness, 4: Unlimited renunciation / equanimity, aloneness – solitude Spiritual Practice Affinities: Space: Mantra Air: Mudra, Pranayama is natural but should be balanced with reading Sutras (Pitta) & Bhakti (Kapha) and Samantabhadra Great Practice Bodhisattva & Earth Store Great Vows Bodhisattva
Pitta (Fire – Water) 50% rajas 45% sattva 5% tamas Intense Metabolic	“Hot-heated” / Rash / Violent 2. Anger – hatred (raw garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives), envy, jealousy (sour - vinegar) “Hot-blooded” Over-sexed (from cooked garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives, hing) Precepts: 1: Killing (Mars - Warrior) 3: Sexual affairs, rape 4: No Harsh Speech (pitta is honest) 5: Alcohol – coffee, sex addiction	2. Aggressiveness, competitiveness, power, prestige, name and fame. *Element - Cognitive-Motor Organ:* Fire: Forms – Sights (Eyes-Feet) – Fancy possessions, luxuries Water: Tastes (Upper tongue – fancy rich foods – expensive restos) Lower tongue [genitals] – over passionate)	2. Precepts, 5. Samadhi, 6. Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, comprehension, recognition Spiritual Practice Affinities: Mandala-Tangkha-Yantra-Trataka-Gazing, Tapasya, Manjushri Bodhisattva Wisdom and Sutra-scripture study is natural but should be balanced with Meditation and 1^st Precept – No Harm and Guan Yin Avalokiteshvara Great Compassion Bodhisattva, 3^rd Precept – Brahma
Kapha (Water-Earth) 5% rajas 20% sattva 75% tamas Relaxed Anabolic	3. Stupidity, Deep con-fusion, over-sexed (cooked garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives), depression, stupor, unconsciousness, coma, “Me Only” Precepts: 3: Sexual misconduct, sex addiction. 4: a.) Irresponsible / profane speech. Major obesity, 5: Sleep-Food-Porn-TV addiction (“Couch potato”)	3. Ignorance, Foolishness, Attachment, stinginess, gluttony, possessiveness, “My family ONLY”. *Element - Cognitive-Motor Organ:* Water: Tastes (Upper tongue – candy, cookie, chocolate) Lower tongue [genitals]) “If you control your upper tongue (tastes), you will control your lower tongue (sex organs)” Earth: Smells Sweet candy, cookie, milky, ghee (Nose and Anus “Kshiti” means earth and hence “Shitty”)	Paramitas: 1: Generosity 3: Patience (Shakyamuni Buddha) 4: Vigor (Great Strength Bodhisattva), 7: Vows (Earth Store Great Vows Bodhisattva), Universal love, 1: Unlimited Kindness (Maitreya Bodhisattva2: Unlimited Compassion / Sympathy (Avalokiteshvara Maha Karuna Bodhisattva - Guan Yin), 3: Unlimited Joy (Patch Adams) All living beings as my “family” Spiritual Practice Affinities: Water: Yama, 3^rd Precept, Forgiveness and repentance (water). Earth: Pure Land Nama Japa, Bakti, Devotion, Earth Store Vows Bodhisattva, Seva, Giving, Caring, Incense, Bowing is natural but should be balanced with Manjushri energy, Sutra study: Wisdom / Prajna

Doshas

Tamasic

Rajasic

Sattvic

Vata
(Space – Air)

75% rajas
20% sattva
5% tamas

Changeable

Catabolic

1. Greed. Delusion, lack of direction, indecisiveness, sadness, grief.
Precepts: 2: Stealing taking what’s not given. 4: a.) Lying. b.) Divisive gossipy speech c.) Loose-chitchat-motor-mouth speech – Leaking away Qi / Ojas – Immunity.
5: Caffeine - Cigarette - Drug addiction: techno ecstasy, MaryJane

1. Desire. Hyperactivity, fear, nervousness, anxiety, ungroundedness, space-cadet / air-head. Forgetfulness, isolation, loneliness, separation, divorce, non-filial respect: Alzheimer’s Disease

Element - Cognitive-Motor Organ:
Space: Sounds (Ears-Mouth)
Air: Touch (Skin-Hands)

Clarity, creativity, lightness,
4: Unlimited renunciation / equanimity, aloneness – solitude

Spiritual Practice Affinities:
Space: Mantra Air: Mudra, Pranayama is natural but should be balanced with reading Sutras (Pitta) & Bhakti (Kapha) and Samantabhadra Great Practice Bodhisattva & Earth Store Great Vows Bodhisattva

Pitta
(Fire – Water)

50% rajas
45% sattva
5% tamas

Intense

Metabolic

“Hot-heated” / Rash / Violent
2. Anger – hatred (raw garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives), envy, jealousy (sour - vinegar)

“Hot-blooded” Over-sexed
(from cooked garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives, hing)

Precepts:

1: Killing (Mars - Warrior)
3: Sexual affairs, rape
4: No Harsh Speech (pitta is honest) 5: Alcohol – coffee, sex addiction

2. Aggressiveness, competitiveness,

power, prestige, name and fame.

Element - Cognitive-Motor Organ: Fire: Forms – Sights
(Eyes-Feet) – Fancy possessions, luxuries

Water: Tastes (Upper tongue – fancy rich foods – expensive restos)
Lower tongue [genitals] – over passionate)

2. Precepts, 5. Samadhi,
6. Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, comprehension, recognition
Spiritual Practice Affinities: Mandala-Tangkha-Yantra-Trataka-Gazing, Tapasya, Manjushri Bodhisattva Wisdom and Sutra-scripture study is natural but should be balanced with Meditation and 1^st Precept – No Harm and Guan Yin Avalokiteshvara Great Compassion Bodhisattva, 3^rd Precept – Brahma

Kapha
(Water-Earth)

5% rajas
20% sattva
75% tamas

Relaxed

Anabolic

3. Stupidity, Deep con-fusion, over-sexed (cooked garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives), depression, stupor, unconsciousness, coma, “Me Only”

Precepts:
3: Sexual misconduct, sex addiction.
4: a.) Irresponsible / profane speech.
Major obesity, 5: Sleep-Food-Porn-TV addiction (“Couch potato”)

3. Ignorance, Foolishness, Attachment, stinginess, gluttony, possessiveness, “My family ONLY”.

Element - Cognitive-Motor Organ:
Water: Tastes (Upper tongue – candy, cookie, chocolate)

Lower tongue [genitals])

“If you control your upper tongue (tastes), you will control your lower tongue (sex organs)”

Earth: Smells
Sweet candy, cookie, milky, ghee (Nose and Anus “Kshiti” means earth and hence “Shitty”)

Paramitas: 1: Generosity
3: Patience (Shakyamuni Buddha)
4: Vigor (Great Strength Bodhisattva), 7: Vows (Earth Store Great Vows Bodhisattva), Universal love, 1: Unlimited Kindness (Maitreya Bodhisattva2: Unlimited Compassion / Sympathy (Avalokiteshvara Maha Karuna Bodhisattva - Guan Yin),
3: Unlimited Joy (Patch Adams)

All living beings as my “family”
Spiritual Practice Affinities: Water: Yama, 3^rd Precept, Forgiveness and repentance (water).

Earth: Pure Land Nama Japa, Bakti, Devotion, Earth Store Vows Bodhisattva, Seva, Giving, Caring, Incense, Bowing is natural but should be balanced with Manjushri energy, Sutra study: Wisdom / Prajna

Relationship of Sattva - Tamas - Rajas to 3 Doshas & Certain Foods

Foods	*Tamasic (Old, over cooked)*	*Rajasic (Raw)*	*Sattvic (Fresh lightly Cooked)*
Fruits	avocado, watermelon, plums, apricots	Sour fruits: oranges, grapefruit, lemons, apples, banana, guava	Mango, pomegranate, coconut, figs, peaches, pears
Vegetables	Mushrooms, pumpkin, all genetically engineered (GMO) products	Potatoes, nightshades, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, tamarind, winter squash, pickles	Sweet potato, lettuce, parsley, cilantro, sprouts, yellow squash
Grains	Wheat, brown rice, all genetically engineered (GMO) products	Millet, yellow corn, buckwheat	Rice, especially basmati, tapioca, soft organic blue corn tortillas
Beans	Urad dal, black beans, pinto beans, pink beans	Red lentils, toor dal, adzuki beans	Mung dal (meng bean sprouts), yellow lentils, kidney beans, lima beans
Dairy	Cheese (hard, aged, salty, or stinky, fetid [Feta cheese]), rBGH – recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone	Old sour cream, store bought yogurt (as opposed to fresh homemade yogurt)	Organic non-rBGH fresh Milk, fresh homemade yogurt, fresh cheese with no rennet (animal intestine), paneer (fresh-made cheese), organic ghee
Spices, cooking Herbs, Condiment, Medicinal healing herbs	RAW Garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives, hing (asafoetida). Cooked or heated honey (creates toxic build up – it is ama-genic), poppy seeds, tagar, valerian, medical marijuana.	Chili, cayenne, peppers, hot and spicy, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, pickles, chutney, raw uncooked honey, salt, ephedra, coffee, black tea, tobacco.	Cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric, basil, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, saffron, sesame seeds, haritaki, amalaki, ashwagandha, brahmi, calamus, camphor, myrrh, chamomile, chrysanthemum, ginseng, gokshura, jasmine, lotus, rose, sandalwood, skullcap, tulsi, mint, pennyroyal, bayberry, jatamamsi, licorice, shatavari,
Meats and Flesh Products	Pork, beef, lamb, dark meat chicken/turkey, bottom feeder fish and lobster, canned, dried, frozen or old flesh products, “factory farming” – 5 chickens to one small cage, de-beaking	Fresh fish, shrimp, white meat chicken	No animal flesh products should be consumed by those wishing to cultivate Sattva (Purity - clarity) and Ahimsa (Do No Harm – Heal and Liberate Living Beings – Shurangama Sutra, Medicine Master Buddha Sutra)

Foods

Tamasic (Old, over cooked)

Rajasic (Raw)

Sattvic (Fresh lightly Cooked)

Fruits

avocado, watermelon, plums, apricots

Sour fruits: oranges, grapefruit, lemons, apples, banana, guava

Mango, pomegranate, coconut, figs, peaches, pears

Vegetables

Mushrooms, pumpkin, all genetically engineered (GMO) products

Potatoes, nightshades, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, tamarind, winter squash, pickles

Sweet potato, lettuce, parsley, cilantro, sprouts, yellow squash

Grains

Wheat, brown rice, all genetically engineered (GMO) products

Millet, yellow corn, buckwheat

Rice, especially basmati, tapioca, soft organic blue corn tortillas

Beans

Urad dal, black beans, pinto beans, pink beans

Red lentils, toor dal, adzuki beans

Mung dal (meng bean sprouts), yellow lentils, kidney beans, lima beans

Dairy

Cheese (hard, aged, salty, or stinky, fetid [Feta cheese]), rBGH – recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone

Old sour cream, store bought yogurt (as opposed to fresh homemade yogurt)

Organic non-rBGH fresh Milk, fresh homemade yogurt, fresh cheese with no rennet (animal intestine), paneer (fresh-made cheese), organic ghee

Spices, cooking Herbs, Condiment, Medicinal healing herbs

RAW Garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives, hing (asafoetida). Cooked or heated honey (creates toxic build up – it is ama-genic), poppy seeds, tagar, valerian, medical marijuana.

Chili, cayenne, peppers, hot and spicy, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, pickles, chutney, raw uncooked honey, salt, ephedra, coffee, black tea, tobacco.

Cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric, basil, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, saffron, sesame seeds, haritaki, amalaki, ashwagandha, brahmi, calamus, camphor, myrrh, chamomile, chrysanthemum, ginseng, gokshura, jasmine, lotus, rose, sandalwood, skullcap, tulsi, mint, pennyroyal, bayberry, jatamamsi, licorice, shatavari,

Meats and Flesh Products

Pork, beef, lamb, dark meat chicken/turkey, bottom feeder fish and lobster, canned, dried, frozen or old flesh products, “factory farming” – 5 chickens to one small cage,
de-beaking

Fresh fish, shrimp, white meat chicken

No animal flesh products should be consumed by those wishing to cultivate Sattva (Purity - clarity) and Ahimsa (Do No Harm – Heal and Liberate Living Beings – Shurangama Sutra, Medicine Master Buddha Sutra)

Sattva, rajas and tamas are the three gunas or qualities that are described respectively as the subtle essences of
pitta (fire and water), vata (space and air) and kapha (water and earth). Please request from Michael Reid Kreuzer
a copy of the article “Guidelines for Determining One’s Mental Constitution via Buddhist Ayurveda Yoga.”

The Shurangama Sutra (www.BTTSonline.org) says cooked garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives or hing makes one over-sexed (pitta-kapha disorders), and when eaten raw they make one angry (pitta liver disorders). These are called “the five pungent plants” and ideally should not be eaten by cultivators of a spiritual path unless they are sick and need to take them as medicines for short periods of time. These six “pungent plants” have a strong effect on the body (rupa skandha in Sanskrit), the emotions (vedana skandha), the mind (samjna skandha), one’s activities (karma and samskara skandha) and consciousness (vijnana skandha). Namo Vipashin Buddha!