The Gunas - Sattva, Rajas, Tamas

Gunas in Eastern Philosophy are basically fundamental qualities or tendencies that exist in all of nature, including the human mind and behavior. The concept stems from the Bhagavad Gita, and Samkhya philosophy; it is utilized to explain the properties of consciousness, personality, and the universe. 

The three gunas are sattva, rajas, and tamas and they are important because they help to explain human nature - why people think and behave differently. Also, it is important to note that all three gunas are part of every human, however, they vary in proportions, and these proportions can change on lifestyle, choices, and spiritual practices. More importantly, these proportions can change at any point in time in people’s lives. 

The goal in many Eastern philosophies, specifically Hinduism, is to cultivate sattva, transform rajas, and overcome tamas. The sattvic mind is more favorable to meditation, self-inquiry, and liberation (moksha).

Gunas can guide decision-making. For instance, choosing sattvic foods (light and nourishing), sattvic actions (truthful, non-harming), and/or sattvic relationships grounded in purity, harmony, mutual respect, emotional intelligence, and spiritual growth can help one align with their true essence and purpose as well as nurture their health and wellness journey.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, the dominant guna at the time of death influences the nature of the next birth in relation to karma and rebirth, hence understanding and mastering the gunas can be vital as you journey towards your spiritual awakening evolution.

 

The Three Gunas: What They Are

1. Sattva – Purity, harmony, knowledge, balance

   • Represents clarity, wisdom, compassion, and calmness.

   • Associated with truth, spiritual growth, and enlightenment.

   • When predominant, a person is peaceful, content, and inclined toward learning or self-realization.

2. Rajas – Activity, passion, desire, restlessness

   • Drives ambition, action, and attachment.

   • Associated with ego, striving, competition, and sensory pursuits.

   • When dominant, a person is energetic but can also be agitated, overly ambitious, or emotionally volatile.

3. Tamas – Inertia, ignorance, darkness, resistance

   • Associated with confusion, laziness, delusion, or ignorance.

   • Leads to stagnation, procrastination, or self-destruction when unchecked.

   • When strong, a person may lack motivation or insight.

Consider this:

Reduce Tamas (by becoming more active and aware)

Refine Rajas (by channeling energy toward positive action)

Increase Sattva (through meditation, study, right living)

You may ask yourself, how do I begin to journey towards Sattva, quiet the Rajas, and dull the Tamas. There are many different ways, however, some key elements involve, yoga and meditation, diet and lifestyle, and practicing self-improvement and development to become more self-aware and working towards self-realization. 

Here is a Chart of the Three Gunas one may experience in their Daily Life:

Aspect	Sattva (Purity, Clarity)	Rajas (Activity, Desire)	Tamas (Inertia, Ignorance)
Mindset	Peaceful, clear, compassionate	Restless, ambitious, emotional	Dull, confused, fearful
Emotions	Contentment, joy, empathy	Anxiety, craving, anger	Depression, apathy, indifference
Behavior	Honest, disciplined, generous	Competitive, impulsive, aggressive	Lazy, deceptive, self-destructive
Speech	Truthful, gentle, uplifting	Boastful, argumentative, manipulative	Harsh, incoherent, cynical
Food	Fresh, light, vegetarian (e.g., fruits, grains)	Spicy, oily, salty, stimulating (e.g., coffee, fried)	Stale, heavy, processed, leftover
Work Ethic	Selfless, mindful, focused on service	Goal-driven, ego-focused, always in motion	Disinterested, procrastinating, careless
Spirituality	Meditative, introspective, devotional	Ritualistic without depth, seeking recognition	Superstitious, ignorant, neglecting the divine
Sleep	Balanced, restful	Disturbed, erratic sleep cycles	Excessive, oversleeping, lethargic