Three Gunas (Modes) & Causes – Krishna’s Views Bhagavad Gita!
Lord Krishna speaks in detail about the nature of people with three gunas in Bhagavad Gita.
In Bhagavad Gita (17-2), Krishna says that one’s faith depends on the three gunas:
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: According to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one’s faith can be of three kinds – in goodness, in passion or in ignorance. Now hear about this.”
(What are the dangers of the three gunas (modes)? READ HERE!)
SATVA GUNA (MODE OF GOODNESS)
Usually, satva guna people will be of soft, compassionate and forgiving nature. They usually lead a simple life and they do not crave for adding more and more wealth and they are satisfied with what they have. They usually do not retaliate though they are insulted by anyone.
Satva guna people will find it easy to surrender to the Lord and elders. They will be humble and merciful.
RAJO GUNA (MODE OF PASSION)
But, the case of Rajo guna people is different.
They stand first to create problems whenever they get an opportunity. They are more interested in fighting than peace. They may get angry very often. They may show that anger in their words and actions. So, they may be little bit aggressive. They may deceive others if they get an opportunity.
(How to identify my Guna (Mode) and become a Satva Guna Person? READ HERE! )
They will follow any means to add more and more wealth and they never get satisfied though they have added more than they require for their entire life.
They most of the time show anger and vengeance.
They have so much of desires in everything including sexual relations.
They have less inclination towards self realization and God realization. They always go for the acts that produce immediate results and sense satisfaction. So, they are much interested in material additions and enjoyments.
THAMO GUNA (MODE OF IGNORANCE)
Thamo guna persons are lazy and foolish and they delay in starting any activity.
They miss the opportunities.
They usually take wrong decisions.
(KRISHNA’S ADVICE IN BHAGAVAD GITA TO AVOID ONION & GARLIC AND STORIES BEHIND THEM! READ HERE!)
Worship Pattern of the Persons of three Gunas!
(17-4):
Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods; those in the mode of passion worship the demons; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.
The Factors that decide One’s Guna!
Two reasons:
(1) Food we take
(2) Association with the devotee community.
The food that we eat decides our gunas. Eating non vegetarian foods will definitely enhance thamo and rajo gunas. Vegetarian foods encourage satva guna.
That is why, most of the Brahmanas who eat only vegetarian foods do not stand first in creating problems. At the same time, many non vegetarians show aggressiveness in their every activity.
That is why, acharyas advise us to eat only vegetarian foods to stay strong in devotion without diversions..
(TRANSFER OF KARMA & SPIRITUAL POWER PERSON TO PERSON – PROCESS! READ HERE!)
KRISHNA’s VIEWS ABOUT THE FOOD & GUNAS
BHAGAVAD GITA (17 : 8-10):
“Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart.”
“Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.”
“Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.”
The need of the hour is to develop the satva guna in us. This will help us to come up in devotion.
So, we should have right choice of foods and association as advised by Krishna above.
Hope this helps to understand the three Gunas (modes) and Causes from Bhagavad Gita as said by Krishna!
(THREE GUNAS OR MODES: Why Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 14.19 that Only the gunas act, not the persons? READ HERE!)