What is the Concept of Leisure in Yoga Philosophy?

What is the Concept of Leisure in Yoga Philosophy?

People consider leisure as an essential pillar needed for a fruitful and joyful life.

Leisure time we often spend engaging in simple activities that help to unwind and relax us. The importance of leisure becomes very crucial in the household life of a person. According to Hindu philosophy which is the backbone of yoga philosophy, human life can be divided in to four phases. They are brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa.

Brahmacharya: Life of a person up to the age of 25 can be considered as the stage of brahmacharya. This period in a man’s life is often used for studying different subjects and skills needed for leading the rest of his life. During this period the person remains single and unmarried.

Grihasta: The life of a person during his age from 25 to 50 is considered as his grihastha period. During this period he gets employed, gets married and starts building his house and lives family life with his wife and children. During this period he earns money and acquires worldly possessions which are to be handed over to the generations to follow.

Vanaprastha: The age after 50 is considered as the starting point of vanaprastha which is the period in which a person hands over his household responsibility and starts leading a spiritual life. During this period the person takes up an advisory role.

Sanyasa: This is the last stage in a person’s life where the renunciation of his material desire takes place. This stage commences after the culmination of the grihastha stage. At this stage the person experiences disinterest and detachment from material life. People become ascetic and start concentrating on attaining moksha (heaven).

Three Gunas Meaning of the Sanskrit word guna is quality. Everything in nature is considered to be governed by these three gunas. The three qualities are sattva, rajas and tamas.

Sattva: Sattva means purity. Sattva is the guna related to good qualities in a human like purity, contentment, joy, faith, compassion, forgiveness, nonviolence, courage, respect, truth etc.

Rajas: Rajas means manipulation. Rajas is the guna related to milder emotions like ego, anger, greed, arrogance, desire, jealousy, malice, false speech, cleverness, etc.

Tamas: Tamas means darkness. Tamas is the guna related to severe and dark emotions like hatred, violence, lack of faith, ignorance, lying, cheating, discrimination, crookedness, senselessness, etc.

Leisure activities related to different gunas One can keep himself engaged in useful leisure activities that support yoga and its aims only by understanding the extent of his various gunas. Let study what are the leisure activities that naturally suit each type of gunas.

Sattvic Leisure: Leisure activity related to sattvic guna has to be moderate in strength and spiritual in nature. These activities are often connected to oneself or to others. It has to be creative and fruitful too. Examples of sattvic leisure activities are playing music, painting pictures, writing poetry, etc.

Rajasic Leisure: Rajasic leisure activities are often competitive and external in nature. It affects one’s ego and derives sensual gratification as the end result of the leisure activity. Examples of rajasic leisure activities are engaging in competitive activities like taking part in a race or playing cricket etc.

Tamasic Leisure: Tamasic Leisure activities often tend to be addictive in nature.

It is extreme in strength and therefore can be destructive too. It usually ends in disturbing one’s balance in his everyday life. Examples of tamasic leisure activities are gambling, watching videos or movies, etc.