The three gunas.

What are Tamas, Rajas and Sattva?

This is a vast topic. The Sankhyan philosophy has classified everything in nature, our minds included, into the three gunas - Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. The three gunas are described in great detail in the Bhagwad Gita.

Tamas is darkness/inactivity. It represents very low consciousness levels. For example, fear, which is born out of ignorance, is tamasic. Low self-empowerment levels, such as being in apathy or depression is tamasic. A tendency to be destructive is also tamasic. Avarna, or veiling power is tamasic, which is the inability to see things as they are. A person who is under the influence of intoxicants, where the mind is rendered dull, is tamasic. Tamasic desires are those born out of delusion/ignorance/indolence. Some amount of tamas is required to get good sleep, however excessive tamas makes the mind dull/lethargic/confused, and the clarity of thought and the ability to discern becomes weak. Vanity, animosity, an unforgiving mentality, lack of self-control, hostility, excessive attachment are some common manifestations of Tamas.

Rajas is passion/excitement/activity. Emotions such as anger, hatred, greed, envy, lust where there is an intense movement of energy is rajasic in nature. Attachment/possessiveness is Rajasic. Vikshepa (or projecting power) is Rajasic. Rajasic desires are those that are born out of passion/selfishness. Rajas can lead to intense activity, but the activity is usually done only for ones own advancement, sometimes without any regard for others/the environment. A consumer oriented society is highly rajasic - everybody appears very busy, but its all mostly centered around self. Rajas frequently results in an agitated mind. Some amount of rajas is needed to achieve goals and get things done, however excessive rajas leads to restlessness/workaholism. Imbalanced rajas leads to envy, aggression, excessive self-aggrandizement.

Sattva is light/purity/wisdom. It is the ability to see clearly. Sattva represents balance, harmony, objectivity. All positive qualities such as non-judgement, non-violence, forgiveness, generosity, confidence, contentment, courage, humility, inclusiveness, selflessness, compassion, acceptance, truthfulness are sattvic. The minds of sattvic people are generally alert, peaceful, restrained, creative, poised, contemplative, focused and yet detached. A sattvic person tends to see the underlying oneness with all sentient beings. Sattvic desires are those that are born out of purity, such as the desire to know/follow truth, the desire for spiritual/self-development/liberation, the desire to help others while expecting nothing in return, the desire that all beings be happy etc.

Each individual is unique mixture of sattva, rajas and tamas, the proportion of which changes as one walks the spiritual path. As compared to predominance of tamas, rajas is preferable, and as compared to predominance of rajas, sattva is preferable. The goal of the spiritual path is to decrease tamas and rajas and to increase sattva more and more. When an individual is predominantly sattvic with very little trace of rajas and tamas, he becomes capable of transcending all three gunas and ultimately freeing himself from the forces of nature, resulting in spiritual enlightenment.

With Love,
Sudhir