71. Interaction of Gunas

Krishna says that “Karmas (actions) in all situations are performed by the gunas (qualities or characters) of nature; one who is deluded by ahankaar thinks ‘I am doer’ (3.27). One with true insight into the distinctions between gunas and karmas knows that gunas interact with gunas and hence he’s not attached” (3.28).

A recurring theme in the Gita is that all actions we see around are merely interactions among the gunas. The three gunas, namely satva, tamo and rajo are present in each one of us in different proportions. Satva guna is the attachment to knowledge; rajo guna is the attachment to action and tamas leads to ignorance and laziness.

It should be noted that no guna is superior or inferior to any other guna. They are all responsible for one form of attachment or the other. For example, if a person has a high percentage of rajo guna, he/she will be strongly inclined towards action and may find it difficult to sleep. Therefore, a certain percentage of tamo guna is necessary for rest and sleep.

Secondly, we need to be aware of the dominant guna within us in the present moment. For example, under the influence of tamas, one would tend to be a couch potato and watch TV. On the other hand, if their spouse were in the rajo guna, then he/she would like to go out for some shopping, a movie, visit friends etc. Subsequent situations may be due to the interaction between the tamo and rajo gunas. Similar situations driven by the interaction of gunas occur at workplaces too.

Krishna explains that we should be able to transcend gunas to become guna-atheeth, a state where we are aware of the gunas which dominate us as well as others in the present moment and we remain a mere witness to their interactions in the manifested world (14.22-14.26).


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