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The Art of Personal Sādhana

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    guṇa

    Devanāgarī: गुण Translation: an ingredient or constituent or attribute of nature; a property or characteristic of all created things; qualities; a quality, peculiarity, attribute or property; the peculiar properties of the letters Similar words:saguṇa Opposite words:nirguṇa Related concepts:pradhāna, prakṛti, rajas, sattva, tamas, vastu, āyurveda

    Appears in

    Yoga Sūtra:

    Chapter 1: 16
    Chapter 2: 15 , 19
    Chapter 4: 13 , 32 , 34

    Sāṃkhya Kārikā:

    11 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 20 , 27 , 36 , 46 , 60

    Bhagavad Gītā:

    Chapter 2: 45
    Chapter 13: 21
    Chapter 14: title

    Gītārtha Saṃgraha:

    7


    Click here for complete Saṃskṛta Index

    Commentaries around

    “Working together with and directed by past impressions,
    the three Guṇa, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas determine
    whether the mind is calm, agitated or dull.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4

    “Mental activities are called Kliṣṭa when they result
    in Duḥkha and Akliṣṭa when they do not.
    When the three Guṇa are dominant,
    Jīva is troubled and mental activities result in Duḥkha.
    When the mind is free from desires, inclined toward discrimination
    and seeking truth, mental activities do not result in Duḥkha.
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 5

    “We can experience an absence of
    thirst for the ephemeral Guṇa
    when the recognition of the
    eternal Puruṣa pulls us more.”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 16

    “These five Kleśa surround the heart of every individual.
    They are related to the three Guṇa known as Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
    As long as one chooses not to inquire into the true nature of one’s self and acts mechanically,
    they will unknowingly contribute to the dominance of the Kleśa.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 3

    “Similarly, because of the proximity of Citta and Puruṣa,
    what is the quality of one is taken to be of the other.
    In our convention they are often taken as one
    and not two distinct entities with different natures.
    This state is Asmitā.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 6

    “This Sūtra describes the origin of Duḥkha.
    Duḥkha arises because of change, greed and conditioning.
    Besides the Guṇa cause inherent changes unexpectedly.
    This disturbs balance and Duḥkha follows.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 15

    “What is the nature of the Dṛśya or what can be perceived?
    It has three qualities; it reveals, it acts, it has substance.
    It has many components, the objects known and the means to know them.
    They serve two roles.
    When in strong association with the perceiver they produce pleasure or pain –
    when this association is absent they let the perceiver visualise its own nature.
    Experience of pleasure or pain is by the perceiver.
    Freedom from them is also its fundamental situation.
    This freedom is no different from Mukti.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 18

    “Without Rajas Guṇa
    there can be no Pariṇāma.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 16

    “For me, still to this day, one of the simplest, direct and most succinct definitions on the purpose of Āsana within the processes and practices of Haṭha Yoga, is the definition offered in the Haṭha Pradīpikā Chapter One verse 17.
    It is a definition valid for any situation, discussion or presentation, or as a response to questions from any background, or level of interest around why we practice Āsana.
    It can also be a springboard to linking physiological qualities, such as the relationship of Agni, to the energetic qualities of health and lightness of limb. Or investigation of the commentary by Brahmānada, as that explores psychological qualities such as the relationship of the Guṇa, Rajas, to mental qualities such as steadiness.”
    – Paul Harvey on Haṭha Pradīpikā Chapter One verse 17

    “Its the combination (of Guṇa) thats important.
    There is the simile of the oil lamp in the Sāṃkhya Kārikā Śloka 13.
    The cotton wick – Light Property (Sattva)
    The basin or bowl – Heavy Property (Tamas)
    The oil – Flows this way or that (Rajas)
    The moment you dip the cotton in the oil it takes on that property.
    Thus the Guṇa work together to produce the flame.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga

    “Everything we see,
    including the instrument of mind,
    has three qualities or natures.
    All matter has the three qualities.
    In Saṃskṛta they are known as Guṇa.
    In Sāṃkhya it is said that every problem
    comes from the Guṇa and their interplay.
    The effects can be based on what we see, eat, hear,
    and the effects of what we see, eat, hear.
    In Yoga one who has mastered themselves is one
    who can produce whatever Guṇa is required.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga

    “One’s own actions can develop or make one Guṇa prominent.
    Thus we can plan or practice Āsana or Prāṇāyāma to promote one Guṇa.
    The practice of Yoga can influence the Guṇa.
    the room where you practice can affect the Guṇa
    by photographs, colour of paint, smell.
    Even Mantra are classified into Guṇa.
    This needs to be considered when using Mantra for the individual.
    Meditation can be related to the Guṇa.
    The object of our inquiry must be related or,
    in accordance with what we want to produce.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga

    “There is an impression in some schools
    that Tamas and Rajas are to be rejected.
    This is not so, both are necessary.
    It is the combination thats important.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga

    “Lightness or Sattva is not always correct.
    Sometimes it is necessary to create
    heaviness and activity for memory, etc.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga

    “Its the combination (of Guṇa) thats important.
    There is the simile of the oil lamp in the Sāṃkhya Kārikā Śloka 13.
    The cotton wick – Light Property (Sattva)
    The basin or bowl – Heavy Property (Tamas)
    The oil – Flows this way or that (Rajas)
    The moment you dip the cotton in the oil it takes on that property.
    Thus the Guṇa work together to produce the flame.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga

    “The Doṣa and the Guṇa are related,
    we need to be able to understand the Guṇa
    to be able to understand the Doṣa.”
    – From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992

    General Guidelines for Practice Planning:
    “Look to cultivate a quality of Sattva by
    diminishing Tamas and channelling Rajas.”
    – 108 Yoga Planning Pointers

    Links to Related Posts:

    • Question to Krishnamacharya – “Can you explain the concept of Vinyāsa and Pratikriyā Āsana?”
    • TKV Desikachar talks on Śraddhā in the light of the Yoga Sūtra……
    • Yoga Sūtra on Stress – An interview with TKV Desikachar

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    Related

    This glossary with its similar, opposite and related concepts categories, supplemented by textual references and additional commentaries around the key word, is a both work in progress and constantly ever-expanding in terms of further cross-references, textual cross links and commentaries.
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