Word of the day: sattva

definition:

sattva n. (ifc. f. %{A}) being , existence , entity , reality (%{Izvara-s-} , `” the existence of a Supreme Being “‘) , TS &c. &c. ; true essence , nature , disposition of mind , character Pan5cavBr. MBh. &c. ; spiritual essence , spirit , mind Mun2d2Up. Ya1jn5. MBh. BhP. ; vital breath , life , consciousness , strength of character , strength , firmness , energy , resolution , courage , selfcommand , good sense , wisdom , magnanimity MBh. R. &c. ; the quality of purity or goodness (regarded in the Sa1m2khya phil. as the highest of the three Gun2as [q.v.] or constituents of Prakr2iti because it renders a person true , honest , wise &c. , and a thing pure , clean &c.) MaitrUp. Mn. Ya1jn5. &c. MBh. R. ; material or elementary substance , entity , matter , a thing Nir. Pra1t. ; a substantive , noun W. ; m. n. a living or sentient being , creature , animal Mn. MBh. &c. ; embryo , fetus , rudiment of life (see %{-lakSaNA}) ; a ghost , demon , goblin , monster R. VarBr2S. Katha1s. ; m. N. of a son of Dhr2ita-ra1sht2ra MBh

tatra sattvam nirmalatvaat prakaashakam anaamayam, sukha sangena badnaati jnana sangena caanagha (Bhagavaad Giita, 14)

(Of these [three gunas], sattva, free from impurity and disease, illuminating, binds through attachment to virtue and by attachment to knowledge, Arjuna.)

So sattva is still a guna, still a binding of the material nature to the body, but at least it does so by virtue and attachment to knowledge.

Dr. Lad would say that there are even negatives to too much sattva: lack of compassion and feelings of superiority. So ultimately, it’s important to avoid even too much sattva (with our free will), but instead to go beyond the gunas.

But what can you do, while you’re still attaching meanings?  Go for sattva.