THE GUNA
TRAYA
By Ramai Das
- Coordenador CDYoga
Sanathana
Dharma has a very ancient and amazing analysis of human mind and its
constituents. This concept is known as Trigunas the basic inbuilt three
characteristics in an individual. They are categorised as Sattva, Rajas and
Tamas.
The material
nature constitutes of three gunas (modes)—sattva (goodness), rajas (passion),
and tamas (ignorance). Since the body, mind, and intellect are material in nature,
they too possess these three modes, and a combination of these gunas forms
the basis of one’s character. Peacefulness, morality, well-being, serenity,
etc. are the virtues of those in the mode of goodness. Those driven by passion
have endless desires and ambitions; they strive to satiate them and work
towards worldly enhancement. However, those in the mode of ignorance; are
gripped by laziness, excessive sleep, delusion, intoxication, and other vices.
A spiritual seeker needs to deal with all these three immensely powerful forces
of material nature. Once the soul is able to transcend above these three modes,
it attains illumination. (1)
The three Gunas-
Sattva, Rajas and Tamas- also promote different kinds of temperament based on the
dominance of one or the other Gunas. No personality is exclusively Sattvic,
Rajasic or Tamasic. In words of Yogi Aurobindo, all men have in them in
whatever degree the Rajasic impulse of desire and activity and the Sattvic boon
of light and happiness, some balance, some adjustment of mind to itself and its
surroundings and objects, and all have their share of Tamasic incapacity and ignorance.
(2)
References:
1.Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 14, Verse 1.
2.Das, R.C. (1991). Standardization
of the Gita Inventory of Personality. Journal of Indian Psychology, 9, 47-58.