According to the Hatha Pradipika guna represents a quality of nature, a threefold capacity of manifest Shakti (feminine principle or prakriti). The three gunas are tamas, rajas, and sattva reflecting the polarity in nature with one pole being static (tamas) a second being active (rajas) and the third representing a balance point. The gunas are archetypes of our mental state as well as our physical. The activity expressed in the natural world or earth is an expression of the gunas and our mood swings, ups and downs, and variable points of view from minute to minute, day to day and year to year. The purpose of yoga is to bring awareness of these fluctuations so we can control them.
Tamas is related to inertia, lack of movement, gross matter. It is required for manifestation of all material substance but it can also represent resistance, stubbornness, and apathy in the human mind. It is our fight or flight response where we close up and go under towards the shadow side of our repressed emotions.
Rajas represents movement, activity, productivity and drive. It is prevalent in our Western culture as we are encouraged to "just do it", go for it, and multitask in almost every aspect of our lives. Rajas is competition and win at any price. It is the fight aspect of fight or flight.
Sattva represents the central column energy which balances tamas and rajas. Where our desire to connect with ourselves, nature, and each other arises. It is the feeling of doing enough, having enough, and peace and harmony. There is no lack in sattva and as a result there is clarity, intuition and light.
When considering the doshas we must integrate knowledge of the gunas in order to assess the mind/body state of the student. We can then create a practice which will benefit the sincere practitioner on many levels.
Namaste,
Luli
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