Dear Mr. Swartz,
Regarding your last Zoominar on The Yoga of the Three Gunas, I do have a question regarding disease/dis-ease in terms of the three gunas/energies.
Would one be accurate in one’s understanding if one were to look at dis-ease such as cancer (malignant tumours) as impure rajas and tamas?
If I am correct in my understanding would it then mean that in order to heal oneself one would therefore need to cultivate and develop a predominantly sattva mind which in turn would neutralise these negative energies within the body, purify rajas and tamas and thus rid yourself of these negative energies/cancer/malignant tumours?
James: Yes, but one is never sure how much karma has been created by the rajasic/tamasic energy syndrome. So even though you diligently cultivate sattva, the effects of your previous actions will continue to fructify for some time. This is not to say the one shouldn’t cultivate sattva, however. If you change your habits you give the body relief from the pressure of the rajas/tamas complex, allowing the sattvic energy to fight the remaining disease. And you won’t be providing an environment for the the growth of new tumors. At the same time you need to continue to strengthen the mind so that it remains steady in the face of adversity.
Love,
James
