The Threefold Faith (Shraddhatraya-Vibhaga Yoga)

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ARJUNA SAID:

 

1. Whoso Worship, setting aside the ordinance of the scripture, endued with

faith - what faith is theirs ? Is it Sattva, or Rajas, or Tamas ?

 

THE BLESSED LORD SAID:

 

2. Threefold is that faith born of the individual nature of the embodied -

Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic. Do thou hear of it.

 

3. The faith of each is in accordance with his nature, O Bharata. The man is

made up of his faith; as a man's faith is, so is he.

 

4. Sattvic men worship the Gods; Rajasic the Yakshas and the Rakshasas; the

others - Tamasic men - the Pretas and the hosts of Bhutas.

 

5. Those men who practise terrific austerities not enjoined by the scripture,

given to hypocrisy and egotism, endued with the strength of lust and passion;

 

6. Weakening all the elements in the body - fools they are - and Me who dwell in

the body within; know thou these to be of demoniac resolves.

 

7. The food also which is dear to each is threefold, as also worship, austerity

and gift. Do thou hear of this, their distinction.

 

8. The foods which increase life, energy, strength, health, joy and

cheerfulness, which are savoury and oleaginous, substantial and agreeable, are

dear to the Sattvic.

 

9. The foods that are bitter, sour, saline, excessively hot, pungent, dry and

burning, are liked by the Rajasic, causing pain, grief and disease.

 

10. The food which is stale, tasteless, putrid and rotten, refuse and impure, is

dear to the Tamasic.

 

to be continued...