From the BHAGAVADGITA

"Religion by Threefold Kinds of Faith"

ARIJUNA. If men forsake the holy ordinance, heedless of shastras

(types of scriptures), yet keep faith at heart and worship, what shall

be the state of those, great Krishna! Sattwan, Rajas, Tamas? Say!

KRISHNA. Threefold the faith is of mankind, and springs from those

three qualities,--becoming "true," or "passion-stained," or "dark," as

thou shalt hear! The faith of each believer, Indian Prince, conforms

itself to what he truly is. Where thou shalt see a worshiper, that one

to what he worships lives assimilate, (such as the shrine, so is the

votary,) the "soothfast" souls adore true gods; the souls obeying

Rajas worship Rakshasas or Yakshas (unembodied but capricious

beings of great power, gifts, and beauty, sometimes also of benignity);

and the men of darkness pray to Pretas and to Bhutas (spirits of evil,

wandering ghosts). Yea, and those who practice bitter penance, not

enjoined by rightful rule--penance which hath its root in self-sufficient,

proud hypocrisies-- those men, passion-beset, violent, wild,

torturing--the witless ones--my elements shut in fair company within

their flesh, (nay, me myself, present within the flesh!) Know them to

Devils devoted, not to Heaven! For like as foods are threefold for

mankind in nourishing, so is there threefold way of worship,

abstinence, and almsgiving! Hear this of me! there is a food which

brings force, substance, strength, and health, and joy to live, being

well-seasoned, cordial, comforting, the "Soothfast" meat. And there

be foods which bring aches and unrests, and burning blood, and

grief, being too biting, heating, salt, and sharp, And therefore craved

by too strong appetite. And there is foul food--kept from over-night,

(which has remained after the watches of the night and in India would

probably "go bad") savourless, filthy, which the foul will eat, a feast

of rottenness, meet for the lips of such as love the "Darkness."

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From the Wisdom of: The BHAGAVADGITA