Tejas is the Ayurvedic word for the inner radiance some people carry. The glow. The lightness of being. The "magic about them" quality that you can feel across a room. Tejas is built, not given. Below is how Susan Bass cultivates hers, and how she teaches her students to protect theirs.
Why "protect your light" is the first instruction in Ayurveda
How does one keep their "Magic About Them" in a world turned hostile and chaotic? How do we maintain our "Lightness of Being" in a world where so many suffer? These are questions I ask myself every day.
One of the first things my teacher told me when I began my studies in Ayurveda and Yoga was to "Protect My Light." I remember sitting there feeling confused as I mentally scrolled through what that might possibly look like. As I started to immerse in the ancient science of Ayurveda, I understood that to "protect my light" meant to protect my Tejas.
How to recognize someone with strong tejas
Who has a lot of Tejas? Have you ever noticed the awesome power of a Black Panther or a Jaguar moving with such perfect synchronicity that they have a GLOW and "Je ne sais quoi." "Je ne sais quoi" is French for an inexpressible something. That special something.
What tejas means in Ayurveda
Tejas is a concept in Ayurveda that is analogous to Spirit. It is also described as cellular intelligence on a metaphorical level, and hormones and amino acids on a physical level. This looks like mental clarity and perfect health, as well as a glowing aura. This glow is the result of such a high level of cellular intelligence that you shine divinity through all your cells and through your heart. There is no struggle or toiling in this process.
Look at flowers. They are oozing with light and with Tejas. They are so luminous and special. Eckhart Tolle calls flowers "the enlightenment of plants." They are particularly good at shining divinity through their cells.
15 practices that build tejas (Susan's list)
Feed your cells with light in all its forms:
- Feel into what is right for YOU. Move past what you THINK is "the right thing to do." No forcing or pushing. Set the intention to trust the wisdom of the body.
- Embrace all that you are. Move toward a sense of relief. Healthy Tejas comes from self-awareness, but you cannot truly cultivate self-awareness unless you are comfortable sitting with the truth of "who you are."
- Live in the present moment. Let go of all the stories you have about yourself. The Black Panther does not walk around saying she is "not enough." She is one with what is, and there is not much internal commentary about it. She is not burning off her Tejas with excess time in her head fretting, worrying, or over-analyzing.
- Meditate on the night sky. Child's pose. Brahmari pranayama. These often help move someone out of overthinking.
- Nasya. Brahmi Ghee Nasya (nasal oiling) is one of my favorite Ayurvedic practices to cool and calm the mind.
- Marma therapy. A little Brahmi oil on the Nasa Mula (point between the eyebrows) is a gentle way to calm and soothe the mind.
- Kapalabhati (skull-shining breath). Wonderful pranayama for increasing Tejas in all your cells and tissues.
- Turmeric. If you feel dull and cold, a warming blood invigorator like Turmeric is like a shot of Tejas.
- Trataka (ghee lamp gazing). Wonderful for bringing back that mental spark. It is said to flower the pineal gland (the third eye, Ajna).
- Sunshine. Prana from the sun is one of the best ways to nourish Tejas. 20 minutes a day is all that is necessary for many people.
- Spend time around nourishing people. You will pick up energy from those around you; be sure it is energy you want.
- Eat fresh food (food filled with prana / life-force). Please no microwaved, frozen, processed, or old food.
- Cultivate daily routines that connect you to nature. Early to bed, early to rise, eat seasonally, largest meal midday, daily walking in nature.
- Send blessings to all of life, including yourself. You deserve blessings too.
- Play. Dream. Hold onto hope. When you play, dream, and hope, you give others permission to do so too.
The principle: feed light with light
All these years later, I have discovered that the way you protect your light is you feed it with more light. Then you have more light to share.
Om Shanti, Susan
Please remember that Ayurveda and Yoga are meant to be practiced with a teacher, a trusted guide. Work with a professional to develop your Tejas building protocol. Be sure to contact your doctor before changing anything about your diet, lifestyle, or exercise routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tejas in Ayurveda? Tejas is the Ayurvedic concept of inner radiance, described as cellular intelligence on a metaphorical level and hormones and amino acids on the physical level. It shows up as mental clarity, perfect health, and a glowing aura.
How do you build tejas? Through practices that feed light into your cells: sunshine, fresh food, nasya, kapalabhati pranayama, meditation, trataka (ghee lamp gazing), turmeric, time around nourishing people, and daily routines that connect you to nature.
What is Brahmi Ghee Nasya? Brahmi-infused ghee dropped into the nostrils to cool and calm the mind. One of Susan's favorite practices for building tejas.
What is trataka? Ghee lamp gazing. Said to flower the pineal gland (the third eye, Ajna). Susan uses it to bring back mental spark.
What does it mean to "protect your light"? Susan's teacher gave her this instruction at the start of her Ayurveda studies. In practice, it means feeding your tejas with more light: sunshine, fresh food, breath practices, nourishing company, present-moment attention. The principle is that you protect your light by feeding it.