Gita 14: Yoga of the Three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas)

1. Introduction and summary of Chapter 14- The Yoga of the Differentiation of the Three Gunas (Gunatrayavibhaga Yoga)
2. Chapter reading Chapter 14 - The Yoga of the Differentiation of the Three Gunas (Gandhi's Gita, Sivananda):
3. Key topics of Chapter 14 Gunatrayavibhaga Yoga:
   1. Verses 1-4: The Supreme Knowledge (Jnana) to attain Oneness with the Lord: The great Prakriti and Purusha
   2. Verses 5-13: Nature and characteristics of the Three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas)
   3. Verses 14-18: effects of the Gunas on man
   4. Verses 19-20: Paramatman (Atman Supreme), He who is above the Gunas
   5. Verses 21-27: Profile of the Gunatita / Jivamukta (who has transcended the Three Gunas)
4. Reading the versified adaptation of this chapter
5. Analysis of each verse and its comments from chapter 14 (Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda)
6. Swami Vivekananda Readings related to Chapter 14- The Yoga of the Differentiation of the Three Gunas)
7. Exercises of Chapter 14- Gunatrayavibhaga Yoga

The fourteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, titled Guna-trayavibhaga Yoga in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, on the science of yoga, as part of the Knowledge of Brahman (Supreme Being), in the Upanishad called Bhagavad Gita focuses on the description of the Gunas, one of the pillars of the Yoga Philosophy.

This chapter is focused on the explanation of the Three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas), that is, the matter that sustains the entire universe and beings. The Three Gunas make up Prakriti (Cosmic Nature).

Knowing how the Gunas influence is fundamental for both spiritual and worldly progress, achieving this Jnana (Knowledge) is vital.

The concept of Gunas is very important to understand the message of Bhagavad Gita. There are three: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas; intelligence, energy and mass, according to the Sankhya Yoga philosophy.

1. Sattva is the highest quality. It is pure. Brings happiness, wisdom and also enlightenment (Gita 15-6)
2. Rajas gives rise to passion, manifested by intense attachment and greed; causes pain and suffering. (Gita 15-7)
3. Tamas is the worst of all, it arises due to ignorance and generates darkness, bewilderment and delusion (Gita 15-8)

The concepts of Prakriti or nature and the Three Gunas are widely used in the Bhagavad Gita and in the philosophy of Yoga. According to the dualistic Sankhya doctrine, everything that exists is formed by two eternal, uncreated fundamental principles:

1. Spirit (Purusha)
2. Matter (Prakriti), formed in turn by the Gunas, which mix differently to give rise to objects

Thus the origin of the world arises from the union of Prakriti and Purusha.

These Three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) are always in activity, competing with each other. They are in all people; no one can escape its influence.

A person may have a certain tendency (e.g. Sattwa), but sometimes he may switch to Rajas or Tamas. We have to care for, develop and conserve Sattwa, when we perceive that it is the other two that dominate, then we should be able to divert them towards Sattwa. Whoever has overcome the Gunas becomes a “man of sure understanding” and will also have the characteristics of ideal Bhakti (Yoga of Devotion).

Sri Krishna began this dialogue by emphasizing the need to achieve “the highest knowledge (Jnana)” (Gita 15-1) of the Supreme Being. Once achieved, the Yogi will achieve unity with Him and will be freed from the birth-death cycle (Gita 15-2).

Then Sri Krishna affirmed that the great Prakriti (womb, mother) is the origin and the end of all beings, therefore everything, including the individual soul, is subject to its influence (Yoga of the Field).

«The total material substance (Prakriti), is My womb; where I deposit the seed of life, and from there all beings are born, Ο son of Kunti.
Whatever form is produced in any womb, Ο son of Kunti, the Great material Nature is the womb of it, and I am the Father who gives the seed» Bhagavad Gita 15-3-4.

Sri Krishna then taught the origin of the Three Gunas and how they keep Atman (Imperishable Dweller) chained to our body:

Rajas and Tamas are the gunas arising from Prakriti

Sri Krishna again reminded Arjuna of the need for devotion (Bhakti Yoga):

«And he who worships Me with the Yoga of Unwavering Devotion (Bhakti) rises above the Gunas and is worthy of being one with Brahman» Bhagavad Gita 15-26.

And he concluded this illuminating speech on the Three Gunas:

«For I am the Abode of Brahman, the Immortal and Immutable, and of the eternal Dharma, and of Absolute Bliss.» Bhagavad Gita 15-27.

The rest of this summary on the subject “Yoga of the Distinction between the Field and the Knower of the Field” is only available to students of the Gita Institute

We can deduce the definition of Sat-Chit-Ananda from this verse of this chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.

What is this Paramatman? The Lord explains the three attributes:

1. Immortal (without death and therefore without birth); Immutable
2. Eternal Dharma
3. Absolute bliss

Therefore, there is no essential difference between Jnana and Bhakti

Unity in diversity

Chapter 14 verse 27 of the Bhagavad Gita (Swami Vidya Prakashananda): Gunatrayavibhaga Yoga

Divine Inheritance, Threefold Faith, Liberation by Renunciation

(c) Gita Institute

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