The Gunas

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The Gunas

A Guna is an attitude/state of mind

Permeate and regulate all matter

Affect everything about your life

Bind your spirit to your body

From which all other attitudes are derived

Controlled by the Gunas

Brahma represents sattva

Vishnu represents rajas

Shiva represents tamas

In Samkhya philosophy prakriti (matter) is composed of sattva (purity), rajas (passion) and tamas (inertia)

Key elements are woven together to form the universe

Gunas contribute to human nature - different combinations produce different character types

Everything in universe can be catergorised by the Gunas

Bhagavad Gita outlines theory of the Gunas --> it emphasises sattvic nature is best

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Tamas

Represents ignorance

Delusion

Carelessness

Laziness

Inertia

Hides and/or lacks knowledge

Repeatedly born into lower castes

Laziness will lead to an inability to build good karma

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Rajas

Passions

Dreaming

Too attached to physical/material world

Selfishness

Materialistic

Ego-centric

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Sattva

Goodness

Happiness

Suppresses rajas and tamas

Knowledge

Calm

Wisdom

Clarity

Always doing the right thing

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Conquering the Gunas

According to the Bhagavad Gita, one has conquered the Gunas will receive eternal happiness

Therefore the Gunas could be seen to help Hindus to achieve Moksha

Following the key moral principles

Dharma, karma, ahimsa, ashramas, artha, kama, vairagya etc.