133 - Transcending the Three Gunas | Swami Tattwamayananda

14th Chapter: Verses 18, 19, 20<br /><br />Our temperaments are determined by a combination of the three <i>gunas</i> – <i>sattva guna, rajo guna</i> and <i>tamo guna</i>. <i>Sattva guna</i> is the highest and most sublime. It manifests itself as wisdom and serenity. <i>Rajo guna</i> manifests itself as dynamism and ambition. <i>Tamo guna </i>manifests itself as laziness and delusion.<br /><i></i><br /><i>Gunas</i> are not visible and cannot be physically verified. We can infer which <i>guna</i> is predominant in a person by observing his external temperament.<br /><br />Of these three <i>gunas, Sattva guna</i> is the most refined. If a person has dynamism combined with a sense of serenity and wisdom, he is endowed with <i>sattva guna</i>. He can concentrate, and direct his time and skills in one direction. <i>Sattva guna</i> manifests as strength combined with humility, richness combined with generosity and so on.<br /><br />A person endowed with <i>sattva guna</i> does his work as <i>swadharma,</i> as a way to properly stay active. <i>Swadharma</i> is our natural way of work that we feel perfect harmony with. When we do our work as <i>Swadharma</i>, we derive inner contentment and do not feel tired from the work.<br /><br />A person endowed with <i>sattva</i> <i>guna</i> is active, but for the good of others and with no attachment. He is not opposed to <i>rajo guna</i>, but he is not bound by <i>rajo guna</i>. Spiritual giants such as <i>Shankaracharya, St. Teresa of Avila</i>, <i>Buddha and Christ </i>were endowed with <i>sattva guna</i> and were always active. They worked only for the good of others.<br /><br />One drawback of <i>sattva guna</i> is that it can lead to spiritual pride. There is also the risk of descending down to a level where <i>rajo guna</i> becomes predominant. This can be remedied by staying detached and doing the work as <i>swadharma</i>.<br /><br />Greed, craving, hyper activism, and restlessness prevail in a person predominated by <i>rajo guna. </i>A person endowed with <i>rajo guna</i>