The 3 Gunas of Nature
In the philosophy of Yoga, all matter in the universe arises from
the fundamental substrate called Prakriti. From this ethereal
Prakriti the three primary gunas (qualities) emerge creating the
essential aspects of all nature—energy, matter and consciousness.
These three gunas are tamas (darkness), rajas (activity), and
sattva (beingness).
All three gunas are always present in all beings and objects
surrounding us but vary in their relative amounts. We humans have
the unique ability to consciously alter the levels of the gunas in
our bodies and minds. The gunas cannot be separated or removed in
oneself, but can be consciously acted upon to encourage their
increase or decrease. A guna can be increased or decreased
through the interaction and influence of external objects,
lifestyle practices and thoughts.
Tamas is
a state of darkness, inertia, inactivity and materiality. Tamas
manifests from ignorance and deludes all beings from their
spiritual truths. To reduce tamas avoid tamasic foods, over
sleeping, over eating, inactivity, passivity and fearful
situations. Tamasic foods include heavy meats, and foods that are
spoiled, chemically treated, processed or refined.
Rajas is
a state of energy, action, change and movement. The nature of
rajas is of attraction, longing and attachment and rajas strongly
binds us to the fruits of our work. To reduce rajas avoid rajasic
foods, over exercising, over work, loud music, excessive thinking
and consuming excessive material goods. Rajasic foods include
fried foods, spicy foods, and stimulants.
Sattva is
a state of harmony, balance, joy and intelligence. Sattva is the
guna that yogi/nis achive towards as it reduces rajas and tamas
and thus makes liberation possible. To increase sattva reduce both
rajas and tamas, eat sattvic foods and enjoy activities and
environments that produce joy and positive thoughts.
Sattvic foods include
whole grains and legumes and fresh fruits and vegetables that grow
above the ground. All of the yogic practices were developed to
create sattva in the mind and body. Thus, practicing yoga and
leading a yogic lifestyle strongly cultivates sattva.
The mind’s psychological qualities are highly unstable and can
quickly fluxuate between the different gunas. The predominate
guna of the mind acts as a lens that effects our perceptions and
perspective of the world around us. Thus, if the mind is in rajas
it will experience world events as chaotic, confusing and
demanding and it will react to these events in a rajasic way.
All gunas create attachment and thus bind one’s self to the ego.
“When one rises above the three gunas that originate in the body;
one is freed from birth, old age, disease, and death; and attains
enlightenment” (Bhagavad Gita 14.20). While the yogi/nis goal is
to cultivate sattva, his/her ultimate goal is to transcend their
misidentification of the self with the gunas and to be unattached
to both the good and the bad, the positive and negative qualities
of all life.
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