Notes
The Gunas
Content of the notes (5)
Page 1
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
Page 2
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
Page 3
Rajas
Passions
Dreaming
Too attached to physical/material world
Selfishness
Materialistic
Ego-centric
Page 4
Sattva
Goodness
Happiness
Suppresses rajas and tamas
Knowledge
Calm
Wisdom
Clarity
Always doing the right thing
Page 5
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.
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- A Level Religious Studies (Hinduism ) Note on The Gunas , created by Niamh Webster on 22/04/2019.
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