On the physical level the factor of evolution is the conflict between the force of life (sattvaguńa) and the force of stagnation (tamoguńa): how to accept challenges, turn the animal instincts into divine ones, and keep laziness from taking over.
On the physical level the factor of evolution is a clash, a conflict between two forces: the force of life (sattvaguńa) and the force of stagnation, of inertia (tamoguńa). The dark principle, tamoguńa, and the bright principle, sattvaguńa, struggle both within us and in every object of creation. The clash of the forces that create physical conflict gives the impetus for the development of the personality on the physical level. Physical clash is the struggle for life.
In animals this happens when they try to survive. For example, a hare runs from a fox that is chasing it. The hare wants to live, it struggles, and this helps it develop. The fox, chasing the hare, also tries to preserve its life and struggles as it hunts for food.
A human being has to sustain their existence by meeting their basic needs — getting food, finding clothing, housing and so on.
But what should we do when the minimum needs are already met and a person's physical well-being is at a fairly high level?
Even so, set yourself goals and accept challenges so that you continue the struggle every day, because as soon as it stops, stagnation and regression begin. Strive to reach new heights, and then your development will not stop.
At the same time, life needs a balance between work and rest, which keeps up our vital energy and does not let inertia and laziness take over.
What happens when a person keeps accepting challenges, does not give in to the tamasic force, fights it and wins?
Waking up in the morning, you struggle with yourself: get up at once, or sleep just a little longer? If you go on sleeping, the force of inertia has won in you; you have given in to it. But if vital energy has helped your intention to get up early, you do it and you win. Here the lower layers of the mind develop. They give charisma and psychic strength, and willpower grows stronger. This strength lets us achieve successful results in life.
A person may be intellectually developed, but life in "hothouse conditions," without physical clashes and without a struggle for existence, robs the personality of strength. The absence of struggle in the lower layers of the mind makes a person weak.
People have four basic instincts: hunger, sleep, sexual desire and fear. If a person lives by these alone, the state of their mind can be called crude.
People also have four divine instincts:
- the longing for freedom and expansion;
- the longing for harmony and love;
- the longing to serve, the wish to do something noble;
- the longing to know the Truth.
The four divine instincts push a person toward development, while the four animal instincts keep them static. The ability to control the animal instincts by redirecting them and transforming them into divine qualities is developed through discipline and spiritual practice.
While doing spiritual practice, we need to understand that in life we must stand firmly on our feet and not only have our head in the clouds. It is foolish to be a sheep in the company of tigers. There is no point in being weak and nice. A good person is a self-confident person who has the courage to stand up for their principles. But that is impossible if you are weak.
The attitude should be this: I never give up; I must succeed in my mission and in my life; I am not going to lose the struggle for existence; whatever happens, however many times I fall, however many times life knocks me down, I will always get up and win. I will succeed in my struggle for survival and will not vanish from the face of the earth. This is my intention. I was born, and I will live.
By cultivating life, you conquer death. This is the foundation of spiritual practice. Our whole life is spiritual practice too. We must not run away from life; we must meet it face to face. It is important to develop in ourselves the right perception of physical conflict, which shows up as life's problems: everything happens by the grace of God so that a person's personality can unfold fully and become beautiful.
Life itself gives us situations for growth, but that is not enough. We need to follow a discipline, not give up, and not let inertia and laziness take over. There are certain physical practices that transform crude energy into subtle energy. The subtle components of the physical body are turned into the crude components of the mind.
This is the purpose of physical exercises — A yoga posture held steadily and comfortably; it balances the glands and quiets body and mind for meditation. — and of a special men's dance, Tańd́ava. The dance symbolizes the spirit of A practical spiritual science of expanding the mind and freeing it from bondage; not a religion and not about sex. and embodies the struggle between the forces of life and death. It gives vitality. The main idea of Tańd́ava is: I overcome the force of gravity, of inertia, I conquer my laziness and remain alive. You want to live; you cultivate the will to live. Tantra is the cult of the supremacy of life over death.
To progress we need to follow a discipline. It is recommended, for example, to practice meditation at the same times each day, to go to bed early and to get up early. We must not let physical comfort halt the path of progress. We should always try something new, learn, achieve what we want, and not avoid challenges with age as an excuse.
Hold this attitude in your mind: I am forever young, forever youthful, and whatever challenge life gives me, I will accept it. Even at 80 you can start life anew and succeed.
Every day should be as if you were born only yesterday. Never give up, redirect the energy of the lower A center of psychic energy in the body; seven major ones lie along the spine. to the higher ones, and that will be victory in the conflict of forces on the physical level.
As a result your personality will gain charisma and vitality. Real kindness shows itself where there is strength, not as a result of weakness. Struggle is the essence of life and the most natural way to be an active and useful person in this world.
Understanding the principles of personal development will let you build your life so that you keep developing, and this will bring you fulfillment.