The Three Gunas

I like studying yoga Philosophy, and was first introduced to many of these concepts during my training at www.gobodhiyoga.com. Later while reading The Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Indian text I became more interested in learning about this philosophy. The religious epic story contained in The Bhagavad Gita, was considered by Gandhi to represent “all that is highest in the religious life of man.” It speaks of the doctrine of universal salvation and emphasizes supplication to God. This ancient text recommends that we might resist the “either-or” view that I myself sometimes feel inclined to take, but rather consider a “both-and” view. For me this has been a liberating concept. I consider myself both a Christian and a yogi.

The Gita, as it is sometimes referred to, synthesizes several paths to spiritual realization based of the premise that people are born with different temperaments and tendencies called the GUNAS. What is a guna? Not to be confused with a Goonie from the 1985 comedy “The Goonies.” This may seem like a tangent here, but I’m giving you a glimpse into how my mind works. Association is my power tool. In the movie Goonies, it’s not just the adventure I loved, but the Goonies themselves. They were like our friends, sometimes annoying, funny, smart, slothful and brilliant at making plans. Each character with their unique qualities and attributes worked together to bring balance back to the little town of Astoria. Let’s just say that down at the “Goon Docks” the dance of the universe in some form was taking place. The intertwining of the three gunas was apparent right before my eyes both in the characters and the story itself, but I didn’t understand what I was seeing back then. Fast forward thirty-four years and I will give you a more pragmatic explanation.

Guna translated from the ancient Indo-European language of India, known as Sanskrit is difficult to describe in one word. Its original and common meaning is a thread or strand. There are three eternal and separate threads or strands if you will, also known as aspects or qualities depending on the context. These three primal building blocks of manifestation, themselves are Prakriti (nature/primal matter). These three fundamental forces are in a constant state of flux and interacting with one another in a playful state. Through this interplay of forces, Prakriti manifests as the universe. These gunas known as Tamas, Rajas and Sattva, in their own right produce a different quality.

- - Tamas: darkness, heavy stillness, ignorance, template for inertia or resistance to action, indifference, laziness, sleep.
    - Prakriti in its densest form

- - Rajas: passion, action, activity, aggression, overcoming inertia, motion.
    - Prakriti in its changing form

- - Sattva: purity, light, knowledge, balance, harmony.
    - Prakriti in its abstract and balancing form

The dance of Tamas, Rajas and Sattva define the essential qualities of someone or something. Just like our little “Goonies.” Always present in all beings and objects in the manifest universe, they are surrounding us and through us in varying amounts. The Gunas cannot be separated or removed, but can be acted upon to encourage their increase or decrease. The beauty of this is, as human beings we can act and not just be acted upon. We can alter the gunas by consciously making choices with our bodies and our minds. From the thoughts we choose, to the lifestyle we live, as well as our interactions with others and the attachments we make with external objects.

These three qualities are very unstable in our mind, and quickly fluctuate. The predominant guna of the mind will act as a lens that affects our perceptions and perspectives of the world around us. If tamas guna is dominant we will act from ignorance, and be deluded from our spiritual truth. Too much tamas leads to depression, lethargy and pessimism or even hatred. If rajas guna is dominant our nature will be attraction, longing and attachment. This guna can strongly bind us to the fruit of our labors, most likely attaching our worth to our performance, which is an illusion of who we really are. In a state of rajas, we may view the world as chaotic confusing and demanding and have a tendency to react to these events in the same way. This rajasic energy can be beneficial when change is needed, but too much can produce anxiety, excess thinking and hyperactivity. Sattva is Yogi’s choice😊. Sattva guna is a state of harmony, balance and joy. It includes intelligence of action, mindfulness, and full consciousness. It is said to transcend the tension between tamas and rajas. It is where compassion is cultivated, selflessness is manifested and a state of peace is present. It is where we see clearly and can discern truth. It is where Spirit connects with the divine, and our actions are in line with who we really are.

It must be understood that the gunas are inseparable, and mutually qualifying. In other words, one guna can limit or enhance the other. Let’s take it a step further. This morning I did not want to get up. The shutters were closed and a heavy darkness filled my room. The sun did not peek through the cracks like it normally does each morning. I lay there unaware that a blanket of snow covered the ground, roof tops and trees. When my hubby came to say goodbye, I was despondent, unmotivated and downright discouraged. I was all the more bugged that I knew I was in a tamasic state, but didn’t care. Since the sun was hidden behind the clouds, I could not get my normal boost of rajasic energy. After some time, and more than I want to admit here. I started to move, longing (rajasic) for the feeling I get after a great asana practice. Dragging my feet to the studio and onto my mat, it wasn’t until chair pose (utkatasana), that I started to feel a shift. For those not familiar with yoga asana practice, this was about one third into my practice. Then like magic, a fire started inside. Just a spark at first, but then into a full body sweat. Yay!! I know what this means, the tamasic state has shifted and now I was entering rajasic energy. I’m more comfortable here, but mind you this is where I get my self into trouble. I was born with a temperament or propensity towards this rajasic guna. Often times putting ten gallons in my five-gallon bucket. Instead of this energy acting as a bridge between tamas and sattva, it becomes counter productive causing agitation, hyperactivity…don’t even get me going on caffeine, and other times I just feel ticked off! The beauty of this is I have a lot of passion, and I get things done, the down side is I overdue. When I can use my awareness mindfully, I recognize the need to balance myself, instead of just going through life on autopilot. First, I ask myself:

- - Why am I doing this (intention)
  - How am I doing this (manifestation)

In other words, my intention might be pure, but I might go about it in an impure way. By noticing these two interactions I can begin to balance my gunas/energy. Paying attention to my reaction, or emotional state as the result of what I’m doing is a clue into what I am becoming. Working through this process of why and how, gives me the ability to choose something different, perhaps helping me move to a more calm, clear state (sattva).

I can’t over emphasize the importance of meditation, along with an asana practice, to help me be my best self. I try hard to do things that are not easy for me like sitting still and reading, writing and pondering. After all my goal is to cease unwanted thought patterns, and connect and commune with God.

These cycles can be in flux daily, hourly or even longer. I’m sure we all have experienced times of lethargy or depression compounded by illness or circumstance that leaves us heavy and unmotivated. Through supplication and a sense of awareness we will know when it is time to get moving again. Listen, then act on your inspired directions. This will help you cultivate some rajasic energy in a sattvic way. So instead of just spinning your wheels for the sake of motion, you will be moving in the direction towards more happiness and contentment. P.S. Don’t get too attached to the life of ease for eventually it will become over ripe, and a lack of gratitude will begin to seep in. Laziness is just around the corner, and tamas will be knocking at your door. Knowing that the gunas are in a playful dance, helps you not get too attached to any one state of being. Learning to observe yourself with a bit of humor is helpful. Understanding these natural patterns of change can help you find balance, and that balance will add stability to your overall wellbeing. And above all remember being present is the best state of all. Yoga Master B.K.S. Iyengar wrote that practicing presence is the key.

“Being present in the here and now transcends needing to be in a particular state or mood to make that happen. You can be present feeling tamasic, rajasic and sattvic!”

B.K.S. Iyengar

Well my friends if you haven’t already begun a life of observation, may I suggest a movie night first, with some homemade popcorn. The Matrix may help you question your own reality, and the Goonies will make you laugh while you identify with each character. Good luck on your journey towards a more balance introspective life, and may happiness be part of your journey.

Namaste, Holly