Beyond the Three Gunas
9 The Vedanta Kesari
PA G E D O N O R : S R I . R . C H I N T H A I A H , C H E N N A I
T
he three gunas―sattva, rajas, and tamas―have men under their control. They are like three brothers: As long as sattva exists, it calls on rajas for help; and rajas can get help from tamas. Tamas kills and rajas binds. Sattva no doubt releases man from his bondage, but it cannot take him to God. It is said in the Purana that Ravana had an excess of rajas, Kumbhakarna of tamas, and Vibhishana of sattva. That is why Vibhishana was able to receive the grace of Rama. The truth is that unless a man has got rid of rajas and has acquired sattva, he cannot steadily dwell in God; he cannot love God and realize Him. Bondage is of the mind, and freedom is also of the mind. When you say that a certain person has become impure, you mean that impurity has coloured his mind. The mind will take the colour you dye it with. It is like white clothes just returned from the laundry… They will take only the colour you dip them in, whatever it may be…If you are in bad company, then you will talk and think like your companions. On the other hand, when you are in the company of devotees, you will think and talk only of God. Even pictures may prove harmful. You see, it is good to keep pictures of sannyasis and holy men in one’s room. When you get up in the morning you should see the faces of holy persons rather than the faces of other men. People with rajasic qualities keep ‘English’ pictures on their walls—pictures of rich men, the King, the Queen…That shows their rajasic temperament. Work for the good of others belongs to rajas, yet this rajas has sattva for its basis, and is not harmful…It is highly beneficial for a person to try to perform such action…Through disinterested action sattva mixed with rajas gradually turns into pure sattva. — The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
April 2021
Yugavani
