Nature’s three prime qualities are known as Gunas, which literally means ‘binders’. These qualities are Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. The Gunas dictate the nature of certain objects, subjects, and actions, and are the causal factors in creation. When the three Gunas are in balance, our internal and external environments are balanced. When out of balance, the three Gunas bring imbalance, frustration, chaos, and disease, inside and outside of us.

Sattva is the quality of purity and harmony, and the one we should cultivate more of. It is the blissfulness you achieve by following a certain diet, lifestyle, and a con yoga practice. Tamas is the quality of darkness, from it comes ignorance that disconnects us from our truth. From Rajas; the stimulating quality comes imagination which can either be influenced by Sattva, therefore, motivational and aspirational or by Tamas, which turns it into bondage and toxic competitiveness.

The Gunas and the mind

The Gunas have a physical representation in nature, for example, Tamas is connected to minerals in their raw form, and Rajas dominates the animal kingdom. But in Ayurveda, the Gunas are used mainly to describe the mental state, which is the domain of Sattva, reflecting clarity and peace of mind. When the mind is balanced, the Gunas give a perception of truth, when out of balance, they create ignorance (Tamas), or false imagination (Rajas). Sattva is the balance of Rajas and Tamas. Hence by increasing Sattva in the mind one returns to peace and harmony.

The Gunas and disease

Rajas and Tamas are factors that cause disease, while Sattva brings balance. Rajas depletes energy, while Tamas is responsible for decay and death, and they both work together. For example, too much spicy food, alcohol, meat, sexual indulgence and excess activity are considered Rajasic. These eventually lead to fatigue and loss of energy, which are considered Tamasic. Health is maintained by following Sattvic principles and lifestyle. The goal of Ayurveda is to restore balance through a primarily Sattvic approach and by cultivating healing methods like the use of herbs, a Sattvic diet, yoga, and positive behaviors.

Sattva is the quality of stability, harmony, purity, or truth. It represents the light and clarity in nature, it is balance and the awakening force of the soul. Sattva is a state of inner joy and the principle of intelligence and intuition.

Rajas is the quality of action, distraction, or circulation. It represents mobility and movement. It is our drive, motivation, and curiosity. Rajas is what evokes pain and suffering when disturbed and it is the principle of energy and flow.

Tamas is the quality of dullness, darkness, and inertia. It represents heaviness and stagnation. It is the embodiment of weakness, degeneration, and death. Tamas causes depression and delusion and it is the principle of materiality.