The Three Modes of Material Nature

As preposterous as the world may seem at times, what’s truly important is how we feel about ourselves and the lives we live. Everything else is just our actions and reactions to that world and circumstances. I thought about this after reading chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita (The Forces of Evolution).

In the chapter (14), the topic of Prakriti is discussed with it’s three qualities known as gunas (elements): sattva, rajas and tamas. They are the three powerful forces that influence our behavior and reactions.

All embodied souls are under the control of the three modes, or qualities, of material nature: goodness, passion and ignorance. Lord Krishna explains what these modes are, how they act upon us, how one transcends them, and the symptoms of one who has attained the transcendental state.

Chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita

We are not taught about these qualities as we grow up as texts like the Bhagavad Gita simply do not fit into our current western modality of education or thought.

So how else do we explain or understand what happens to us when we become amerced in deep emotional states like bliss, rage or despair? I think about what this concept means to me and how these forces influence my life. I also ponder how they affect the rest of us (think about headlines in the news).

Here is the complete chapter 14 from the Bhagavad Gita. Let me know what you think.

Peace