Miscellaneous - Religion   

The three qualities

CHENNAI : Every individual is unique and his nature is determined by the interplay of the three qualities (Gunas)— Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. These qualities are always in a state of flux in a person and are responsible for his thoughts, actions and response to situations. When Sattva predominates it gives joy while Rajas impels one to action and, Tamas clouds the intellect thereby making the person lethargic.

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said the Bhagavad Gita had emphasised the importance of understanding the influence of the Gunas as they had a bearing on the spiritual progress of a person. The import of this can be appreciated from the fact that the Gita elaborates how the Guna that prevails during the last moments of one's life determines the state of the soul in afterlife. When a human being dies when Sattva dominates he attains higher worlds like heaven which men of noble deeds reach. When Rajas overwhelms the other qualities at the moment of death, the person is reborn among those attached to action and its fruits. One dominated by Tamas falls from the privilege of human birth by being reborn as creatures like insects and beasts.

The object of human birth being liberation from rebirths it becomes incumbent on those who have been fortunate to be born as one to make conscious effort to put an end to rebirth. By realising one's true nature as the Self (Atman) through knowledge it is possible to be liberated here and now (Jivanmukti). Like the space inside a pot merges with the space outside when the pot is broken, so also for one who has realised the Self there is no rebirth after this life.

Abidance in Sattva is essential to progress spiritually. Even if such a person is reborn after enjoying heavenly pleasures the circumstances of his birth will be conducive for further evolution. Whereas, in the case of a person under the influence of Rajas there is no guarantee that the environment in which he is reborn will be favourable for spiritual progress. As for Tamas, for those who yield to it the loss of evolutionary status is irreparable, as they have to plod again from the very beginning.

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