The Three Gunas: Rajas, Tamas, Sattva
Boulders: tamas. Galapagos Hawk: sattva.
My simple interpretation of quantum physics is “matter is energy”. Yoga philosophy has similarities to the intangibility of quantum physics.
I have incredibly knowledgable friends and students who work at JPL/NASA who have tried to explain to me the concept of a Black Hole. I cannot wrap my mind around a star that explodes and creates extreme gravity. Where does the matter drawn into the gravity go? Right when I think I comprehend, it slips away. It’s infinitely easier for me to grasp the intangibilities of yoga philosophy. Yoga philosophy explains the matter in the universe and the Mind in a different and practical way that makes sense to our real lives.
“Reality is merely an illusion, although a very persistent one.”
Understanding Reality Through the Gunas
Yoga philosophy views reality as a dance between consciousness (purusha) and matter (prakriti). Purusha is your unchanging essence, the soul or the Self. Prakriti is the dynamic realm of nature, constantly in flux. Everything in prakriti, from a subtlest thought to a vast mountain range, is composed of energy and influenced by three fundamental qualities called gunas: rajas, tamas, and sattva.
Rajas (Activity): This guna represents movement, passion, and drive. It's the fire that ignites action and fuels our ambition.
Tamas (Inertia): Tamas signifies stability, rest, and even lethargy. It's the grounding force that allows us to conserve energy and find stillness.
Sattva (Harmony): Sattva embodies clarity, peace, and understanding. It's the quality that promotes wisdom and inner balance.
The Gunas in Our Daily Lives
Imagine a massive boulder – its heaviness and stillness reflect tamas. Conversely, an erupting volcano spews hot, rajasic energy. A cat, splayed and napping in the sun reflects sativa. The gunas play out within us too.
The initial days of the COVID-19 lockdown were a prime example. The rush to stock up on supplies and disinfect was driven by rajas. Many people found peace in the forced quietude that allowed them to indulge in baking bread or gardening (sattva). For others, the situation triggered job losses, leading to depression and a lack of motivation (tamas). The constant changes and uncertainties also fueled anxiety (rajas). Many of us cycled through all these states, with some days or weeks dominated by one guna or another.
The Gunas on the Yoga Mat
A well-rounded yoga practice acknowledges all three gunas. Certain postures require rajasic energy – the strength, discipline, and focus to hold them. But within that effort, we also seek equanimity – a sense of calmness and composure (sattva). We don't always achieve it; that's part of the practice.
Other poses invite us to surrender in body and mind, cultivating stillness (tamas). This letting go can be just as challenging as the "harder" poses, which may make a person’s mind rajasic. Or the person will relax into it and feel sattva.
Savasana, the corpse pose, exemplifies the potential interplay of all gunas. Ideally, it's a state of conscious relaxation, a sattvic experience of letting go. But who hasn't had their mind race during Savasana (rajas), or even fallen asleep (tamas)? People who fall asleep likely need it. But it's not quite the same as the alert, yet deeply relaxed state cultivated in Savasana.
Restorative yoga practices are specifically designed to evoke a sense of calmness and inner harmony (sattva), even though the experience might not always be perfectly peaceful.
By understanding the gunas, we gain a deeper appreciation for the dynamic nature of life and our own ever-changing inner landscape. Yoga practice becomes a tool to cultivate awareness and navigate these different energies, which helps create a sense of balance and well-being.
Forest fire in Altadena, CA (8/15/2020): Rajas.
Navigating the Gunas in a Shifting World
As we re-connect with friends post-pandemic, the Mind and emotions are likely a blend of gunas. Seeing loved ones can spark joy (sattva). Shifting regulations, like the recent mask mandate lift, can trigger anxiety (rajas) or confusion (tamas). Many people felt rajas regarding implementation of the mask mandate in the first place. All these reactions are natural; the key is how we respond.
Awareness, discernment, and self-study is key. We all flow through different gunas throughout the day, even within a conversation. By observing ourselves, we can gain a deeper understanding of our unique nature and respond to life's experiences with greater awareness and balance.
Sandra Sanchez is a yoga instructor and Ayurvedic Practitioner.
Ayurveda is the oldest holistic healing system in the world, the sister science to yoga. I occasionally use Ayurvedic practices as a tool in my teaching and personal life.
In the meantime, notice the Guna energy of the objects around you, flavors you taste, behaviors of people you encounter, your pets, you in various situations. Let me know what you discover!
