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dejection, distress, sleep, hope, fear and indolence are the attributes proper of Tamas.
Now listen to the effects of their combination. O Uddhava, the sense of I-ness , I am ,
My-ness , It is mine etc., is produced by the mixture of the three Gunas. All our dealings or
transactions through the mind, objects, senses and Pranas are the effects of a mixture of the three
Gunas. (You identify with the body and organs and say, I am black, I am lean, I am blind. You
identify with objects and say, This coat is mine etc. )
Devotion to the performance of one s duty (Sattvic), acquisition of wealth (Tamasic) and
satisfaction of his desires (Rajasic) which bear the fruits of faith (Sattvic), attachment (Rajasic) and
wealth (Tamasic) are the results of a mixture of the Gunas.
If a man intensely gives his mind to Pravritti course and if he leads the life of a householder
observing his duties laid down for him, this is a case of a mixture of the Gunas. Man is Sattvic when
he has got the Sattvic attributes such as Sama (serenity) etc., he is Rajasic if he has desire and other
qualities and he is Tamasic if he has anger and other qualities.
When a man or a woman worships Me with devotion and does duties without any selfish
motive, they should be known as possessed of Sattvic nature.
When they worship Me for the attainment of desires; for the sake of wealth and blessings,
they should be known as possessed of Rajasic nature; and if they worship Me in order to do injury to
others, they are of Tamasic nature.
The Gunas, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas affect only the Jiva but not Me. They manifest
themselves in mind and bind him to Samsara by attaching him to the sense-objects.
When Sattva prevails over the other two Gunas man has happiness, virtue, knowledge and
the like. When Rajas which leads to attachment differentiation and activity overpowers Sattva and
Tamas, the person gets pain, becomes active and seeks after fame and wealth. When Tamas which
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TEACHINGS
produces infatuation, ignorance and dullness overwhelms Sattva and Rajas, then he experiences
sorrow, stupor, sleep and becomes cruel and voracious.
When the mind becomes serene and cheerful, when the senses are subjugated, when the
body is free from fear, when the mind is free from attachment, Sattva grows up and makes it easy to
realise Me.
When the mind is distracted by actions, when desires multiply, when the senses become
restless, when the mind is always wandering, know by these signs that Rajas is increasing.
When the mind cannot grasp, when it is drooping, when it is not able to reflect on the
Atman, when it languishes, when the mind is vacant, when ignorance and dejection prevail know
by these signs that Tamas is increasing.
When Sattva increases the strength of the gods is enhanced, when Rajas increases the
Asuras prevail; when there is an increase of Tamas the Rakshasas prevail.
Wakefulness is due to Sattva, dreams to Rajas and deep sleep to Tamas. The fourth or the
superconscious state is Atman that is connected with all the three states.
By the force of Sattva Brahmanas i.e., those who follow the courses laid down in the Vedas
go higher and higher upto Brahmaloka; through Tamas men sink lower and lower and through
Rajas they remain in the middle i.e., in the sphere of man.
If at the time of dissolution of the body, the mind is full of Sattva, man attains heaven; if full
of Rajas he is born again as a mortal in this world; if it is full of Tamas he goes to hell. But those who
are above the three Gunas attain to Me alone. Action that is offered to Me or that is unselfish is
Sattvic; action done with expectation of fruits is Rajasic; that action which becomes harmful or is
hypocritical is Tamasic.
The knowledge of the existence of Atman as something distinct from the body is Sattvic;
that which is otherwise i.e., identifies Atman with the body etc. is Rajasic; the knowledge of the
uncultured like that of children, the dumb etc., is Tamasic, that which concerns Me is Jnana which is
beyond the Gunas.
The forest is a Sattvic dwelling; a village is Rajasic; the gambling house is Tamasic, and My
abode is beyond the Gunas.
He who performs his duties with no attachment is Sattvic; he who is blinded by attachment
is Rajasic; he who has lost the understanding of right and wrong is Tamasic; he who has taken
refuge in Me is an agent free from all Gunas.
Faith in Paramatman as taught in the Vedanta Sastra is Sattvic; that in sacrificial and other
Vedic duties is Rajasic; faith in Adharma or irreligion is Tamasic; absolute faith in My service is
beyond the Gunas.
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LORD KRISHNA, HIS LILAS AND TEACHINGS
That food which is healthy, wholesome, pure and obtained without efforts is considered
Sattvic; that which gratifies the senses or the palate is Rajasic; that which is impure and injurious to
health is Tamasic.
Happiness which arises from his own Self is Sattva; that which arises from the objects of
sense is Rajas; that which arises from ignorance and delusion is Tamas; and that which arises from
realising Me is beyond the Gunas.
Substance, place, the fruit (Svarga and the like), time, knowledge, action, agent, faith, state
form, goal all these are affected by the three Gunas.
O bull among men, all things that are pervaded and regulated by Purusha and Prakriti, as
also what ever is seen, heard or thought by the intellect are the products of the Gunas.
O gentle one, these are the courses of Samsara (births and deaths) for the man. They are
caused by the Gunas and his Karma. He who has conquered these Gunas which arises in his mind,
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