There are three gunas in each and every living and non living beings. This has been explained in detail by Lord Krishna in Bhagavath Geetha. These Gunas are Satwa (SATWIC) Guna, Rajo (RAJASIC) Guna and Thamo (THAMASIC) Guna. Each and every individual and animal has these three gunas in their behavior. I.e. they will be demonstrted In all the process of talking, watching, thinking, analyzing, evaluating, understanding, communicating and so on. For those who have predominant level of Satwa Guna, they are known as people of satwic nature ( it does not mean that they do not have other gunas. It only means that the other gunas are not predominant). Rajo guna people have those characters prominent . Similarly people of thamo guna have those characters predominating in them always. There are satwic, rajasic and thamasic food, personality, work, music, dance, worship, knowledge, etc. E.g. Satwic food, Rajasic food and thamasic food which are respectively, good vegetarian food , milk, curd etc are sativic food, meat and animal products + highly pungent food, etc are rajasic and alcohol, fermented food etc are thamasic food.
Even for a satwic man, depending upon the environment the rajasic and thamasic feeling can arise. Even for a thamasic individual at instances, the satwic feeling can rise up. Hence the upsurge of the gunas depend mainly on ‘what you hear-see-talk-feel-think and experience’. Hence for controlling ourselves the best method is to control our ears-eyes-tongue and mind. Remember even the great Rishies with all their satwic nature can suddenly change to other nature. You know Kumbakarna is the thamasic man. But he advised Ravana in a satwic way against all the latter's misdeeds. When a satwic man takes thamasci food/drinks that influences him. The terrorism is nothing but injecting rajasic and thamasic feelings in satwic people. Bribe/murder/fight, sex, theft are combination of rajasic & thamasic qualities(generally) created by circumstances and which is based on what you hear/see/talk/experience
Some people are compelled to do Rajasic work by profession. Kings, soldiers and police fall under this category. They may even need Rajasic food . Some people are expected to do thamasic job, as butchers and security personnel. Raising satwic feelings in them may even prevent them doing their job efficiently.
Generally what an ordinary man like us to do ? If we are the inheritors of the thamasic qualities, get ourself elevated into Rajasic first and then to satwic. Try to maintain the satwic character wherever possible. If you get suddenly changed into other try to retain the satwic nature by continuous mental training. Keep a good friend or guru for getting good advice to retain the satwic character and temperament. Wherever you have to do Rajasic work/job as profession, do not keep yourself away from that. Undertaking any challenge has to have the Rajasic qualities, if it is our swadharma. Knowledge and experience can make you more and more satwic. Mental aberrations can take you to rajasic. Circumstances can take you to thamasic. But you yourself can take you back to satwic. That is what the Vedas, puranas, itihasas tell you. Take good from everywhere, do good, speak good, think good, see good, and become good and that is satwic. Whenever you realize the mistake of doing opposite of what is expected from you, immediately apologize. ‘Satwic’ does not mean over polite, over humble, over patient, over obedient, over devotion, coward’s behavior…… Satwic only means living with self respect, dignity, credibility, dedication, devotion, and so on. In general one has to maintain satwic qualities. For patriotism and self respect follow Rajasic qualities. For suppressing and preventing the anti national activities and terrorism follow the Thamasic outlook.
Now please listen to the talk given by Dr.N.Gopalakrishnan.a scientist with CSIR, He has and post doctorate in Bio chemistry, D.lit in Sanskrit, Post graduation in Journalism and another PG in Sociology.
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