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The Gunas

The yoga tradition tells us that prakriti is an intermingling of three entities, or gunas, that are constantly shifting in relation and proportion to one another. They have differing qualities, and their activities either conceal or reveal the presence of purusha, which is the observer of their movements.

Sattva Rajas Tamas
Key Features light, upward moving, pure, transparent, inspiring, warm active, moving, agitated, restless, throbbing dark, heavy, inert, downward-moving, opaque
Mind clear, content, inspired to spiritual pursuits, concentrated, accepting flooded with thoughts, excited, hyperactive, nervous, wordly unclear, heavy with depression, hopeless, no inspiration, dull
Emotions faith, devotion, peace, humility, contentment, cheerfulness, detachment, yearning for liberation, love desire, anger, greed, hypocrisy, arrogance, jealousy, egoism, envy, ambition, competitiveness, expectation sadness, lack of enthusiasm, stubbornness, clinging, apathy, hopeless, dejection
Energy light, joyful, supple energetic but restless dull, heavy, listless
Body energetic, light, and composed unsteady, too active heavy, stiff, immobile
Food light, fresh, easily digested, neither under- or overcooked, calming strong taste, heavily spiced, pungent, overly salted, disturbs sleep, causes dreams stale, heavy, full of additives/preservatives, overly sweet, induces sleep, overcooked
Attached to knowledge and happiness action negligence, sloth, and sleep
Works without desire for fruit according to scriptures, faith in duty, happy seeking fruit, hypocritical, ostentatious, anxious/stressed with foolish obstinacy, fails to observe scriptures or right practice, without faith
Environment clean, fresh, quiet, peaceful, harmonious, cooperative, green, uncongested conflicted energies, exciting, busy, plays music constantly, argumentative dull, dark, stale, unclean, congested with old ideas, depressing, slothful
Understanding knows virtue unclear rev virtue/vice obscured thinking
  • http://twitter.com/ShantiGirlYoga ShantiGirlYogaHawaii

    I don’t know if it’s just my browser or not but it appears that the qualities of tamas are not showing on this chart. Thank you for posting it though!

    • Webservices

      We have fixed the problem of one column not showing. We recommend using the latest version of Chrome, Safari or Firefox. Internet Explorer is not compatible with most of the new internet standards.