More Wisdom of the Gita
Of Truth, Human Nature, and Peace.
Need more context? Please read the first post in the series!
Fun fact: Did you know that Thoreau is believed to have read the Gita - Emerson’s copy - every morning during his two years of living off the grid at Walden Pond from 1845-47?
Sir Edwin Arnold (1832 – 1904), a poet and journalist, translated the Gita into English in 1885 as the ‘The Song Celestial.’
In dedicating it to India, he wrote:
“So have I read this wonderful and spirit-thrilling speech,
By Krishna and Prince Arjun held, discoursing each with each;
So have I writ its wisdom here,--its hidden mystery,
For England; O our India! as dear to me as She!”
In this series, I continue to curate, group and interpret selections from this ancient text for modern ways.
The Gita suggests that three kinds of nature or modes envelop the material world.
Every human demonstrates one of these three modes.
The Wise
The highest of these is the wise mode - sattvic - marked by self-control, seeing the good in others, and speaking the truth.
Those of this persuasion are devoid of ego, and in control of their senses and mind.
They are the true yogis.
Always acting, never idle.
Serving all beings without distinction.
They are detached from the result of their efforts.
Their intellect governs the knowledge they acquire.
Discriminating thus: not this, not that; acting in goodness, they are at peace in any environment.
Overseeing their food, actions, and habits, they exercise self-control in all that they do.
When they speak, it is the truth - not to harm, but mindfully and without fear.
They lack ill-will, jealousy, fear, and anger.
In its place, reigns calm, evenness of temper, and peace towards all beings.
Attachment to spiritual knowledge, commitment to detached action in their duties, and withdrawal from sensory pleasures drive the nature of the wise.
Their words are “That which is Truth.”
The Passionate
The second type is a passionate nature, or rajasic.
Those who demonstrate this temperament are engaged always in life’s pleasures, material goals, and in increasing their status.
They not only strive for success but also take pride in displaying it.
Seeking pleasure in wearing fine clothes, and reveling in luxuries, they identify so closely with objects of desire that discrimination is difficult.
Quick to anger, their ego is strongly attached to their sense of self, unaware that the Self stands apart.
Action driven by desires governs their lives.
They may be the movers and builders of the material world, less prone to reflection, and self-awareness.
Forever marching to the tune of their passions, they seek new achievements.
They may fear or avoid solitude, seeking the company of like-minded people.
However, in the presence of the wise, they may strive to elevate their nature, and be open to influence for practicing discernment.
Attachment to action fuels the passionate nature.
Their words are “What I Did.”
Neither Passionate nor Wise
The third nature is that of ignorance, or tamasic, marked by a lack of right knowledge and right action.
Those of this nature wander through life, believing right to be wrong, and wrong to be right.
Always doubting, never satisfied.
Believing untruth and truth without distinction.
Locked in delusion, content to be ignorant, and bound to inaction.
Struggling to distinguish right from wrong, they suffer greatly.
Desiring, without attaining, they flounder and indulge in the lowest level of actions.
Like the passionate, they are attached to life’s pleasures but without their definiteness of purpose and adherence to right action.
Blaming others for their misfortunes, they lurch from inaction to inaction.
In their ignorance, they may mock the actions of the wise and the passionate.
Ignorance continually binds those of a tamasic nature.
Their words are “I don’t know what I don’t know."
Moving Across the Three Modes
What, then, is the goal?
Each nature should aspire to rise to a higher mode.
A rajasic temperament moving to be more sattvic; a tamasic to be more rajasic or sattvic.
The aim is to always seek a higher state.
Act with purpose, benefiting others.
Act with less ego, and greater detachment from rewards.
Doing so, free yourself from the effects of your actions.
For it is true that one who dedicates their actions to Universal Truth, suffers no consequences of their actions - good or bad. They are protected from being born, repeatedly, to work off the effect of their actions.1
Knowing this, the wise cultivate the highest mode—a sattvic life, purposeful and detached from outcomes, performing life’s duties egolessly and in service of others.
The path forward for an action-oriented and passionate person is to reduce their attachment to results, minimize actions driven by ego, and lessen identification with their material possessions.
Unfortunately, the ignorant or tamasic persons, without the guidance of the sattvic, may struggle to discern right from wrong, often sinking deeper into laziness, fear, and ignorance.
However, in the presence of the wise, even the ignorant may gradually awaken to higher truths and advance.
Thus, seek the company of the wise, suggest the ancients.
Their presence will calm your mind, evoke goodness, and guide you toward a life of detached action and meaningful work.
Going Beyond the Three Modes
Yet, the wisest know there is something beyond these three modes.
Transcending the modes means going beyond ego, knowledge, and action.
Through persistent effort, a rare few may glimpse the ultimate Truth.
Until that time, aim to cultivate sattvic qualities, moderate rajasic tendencies, and avoid tamasic traits entirely.
Find joy in the company of the wise, and work to transform yourself.
Eventually, you may attain the highest mode—and perhaps transcend it, no longer bound by the three modes.
This is the way of peace and wisdom in this life.
Explore other posts in the wisdom series featuring timeless aphorisms, insightful animal stories, and ancient parables and tales.
Karmic debt.
Whenever I read these passages, I think of Shri Dhyanyogi, who said “I am here to turn stones to men and men to gods.”
Tamas to Rajas to Sattva. Quite the journey.