The Gunas: Elements of Our Personality
Connected to the manomaya and vijnanamaya koshas, the gunas are the three states of mind that shape our sense of self and individuality. Unlike the chitti vrittis, the fluctuations or movements of the mind, the gunas represent the energy of the mind. Developing an awareness of the gunas and how they function can help us calm the mental fluctuations and move toward a more balanced, harmonious state.
In classical Indian philosophy, the universe is divided into purusha (pure consciousness) and prakriti (nature or matter). The gunas are the components of prakriti, the natural forces that influence the mind and emotions, particularly as expressed through the manomaya and vijnanamaya koshas. These tendencies are not inherently good or bad. Rather, they offer insight into “how we feel within ourselves” and how we relate to others.(3) Present in everyone to varying degrees, the unique combination of the three gunas gives each person their distinct identity and personality.
The Three Gunas
Another core tenet of classical Indian philosophy is dukkha, or suffering, a universal experience that touches every life in some form. One way to reduce suffering is the Eight-Limbed Path of Yoga. However, according to yogic philosophy, the roots of suffering lie in the gunas, especially two of them.
The three gunas (rajas, tamas, and sattva) represent the energetic qualities of the mind: activity, inertia, and clarity. Only in the state of clarity can one be truly free from suffering. The goal of yoga, then, is to reduce the influence of rajas and tamas so that the mind can rest in sattva.
Awareness of our own suffering is the first step toward freedom from it. However, it's important to recognize that while rajas and tamas can be sources of suffering, they can also bring moments of joy, pleasure, and restoration.
Rajas – Activity and Passion
Rajas is a high-energy, dynamic, and fiery state of mind. It fuels ambition, motivates action, and ignites our passion for new experiences. Rajas is the energy that propels us forward. It’s the force behind our drive to achieve, create, and engage with the world. "Rajas induces us to act" and is associated with movement, intensity, and desire.
When suffering arises from rajas:
This energetic force can easily become overstimulating. It may manifest as restlessness, anxiety, or an inability to slow down. Rajas feeds obsessive desires and fear of loss. One source describes its risk:
"Sometimes it pushes our mind into a state of constant activity and we cannot be still: that state is characterized by restlessness and agitation."(1)
Tamas – Inertia and Stillness
Tamas is the opposite of rajas: a low-energy, slow, and dense quality of mind. It brings stillness, rest, and the grounding we need to recharge. Tamas supports relaxation and is essential for sleep and restoration. It is the force of inertia. It may also lead to clinging to limiting beliefs or patterns due to a lack of clarity or direction.
When suffering arises from tamas:
While it can offer necessary calm, excess tamas may lead to lethargy, confusion, or mental stagnation. It can cloud perception and create resistance to growth. In this state, people may struggle to know what they feel or need. One description says:
"Tamas may come with feelings of not knowing what you are feeling or what you want or need."(3)
Sattva – Clarity and Harmony
Sattva is the quality of balance, clarity, and inner peace where no suffering exists. When rajas and tamas are reduced, the mind becomes clear and luminous. This is the state of sattva. It is marked by harmony, kindness, and a deep sense of well-being.
The more sattva a person has, the more kind and thoughtful their actions and behaviors will become. Because they live in harmony with themselves and others, they are able to feel more ease as they move in the world. There’s a feeling of spaciousness and ease, a natural joy that arises without external cause. Sattva is considered the “natural state of mind,” while rajas and tamas are seen as disturbances.
How the Gunas Shape Personalities
The Bhagavad Gita introduces the concept of the gunas within the broader context of the universe’s creation. According to this philosophy, a cosmic expansion created the universe, which is made up of two qualities, purusha (pure consciousness) and prakriti (nature or matter). Prakriti is the primordial energy of the universe, and every state of mind and matter is composed of the three gunas: rajas (activity), tamas (inertia), and sattva (harmony).
In Sanskrit, guna translates to “strand,” suggesting that these three qualities are the very threads that weave the “fabric of existence.” As energetic forces, the gunas are always in motion; sometimes shifting naturally, other times through conscious effort. While all three are always present within us, one is usually more dominant at any given moment.
Some people are naturally driven, dynamic, and high-energy. Others may move through the world with a slower, steadier rhythm. And some radiate a sense of calm and clarity. Although each person tends to lean toward a particular guna, this balance is never fixed. Like tides or seasons, the gunas ebb and flow in response to life’s circumstances.
Take, for example, a common experience: you feel energized and enthusiastic about an upcoming event. This is a rajasic state. Afterward, you may feel tired, relieved, or sluggish, slipping into a tamasic state. Then, once you’ve rested and returned to balance, you might find yourself feeling peaceful and grounded. That’s sattva. The cycle continues, often subtly, as your inner state responds to the world around you. Because the gunas are energetic by nature, they are fluid, never landing in a fixed or permanent form.
As the gunas interact, blend, and transition, they create what one author calls “the dynamics of personality,” offering each of us the chance to evolve. Personalities aren't set in stone at birth; they’re shaped by time, experience, and intention. Who we are at the age of five differs from who we are at fifteen, twenty-five, or fifty.
And while the gunas may shift on their own, we also have the power to influence them. With awareness and conscious intention, we can shape the energy we embody. Left unchecked, the mind will often cling to familiar habits, even when they no longer serve us because they feel safe and known.
But once we begin to notice that certain behaviors may be contributing to our suffering, we’ve already taken the first step toward sattva. With each conscious choice to pause, reflect, meditate, or release old patterns, we begin to rebalance the gunas within us and shift our perception.(2)
How to Shape the Gunas with Yoga
The three gunas offer a unique and insightful framework for understanding the patterns behind why we think, feel, and act the way we do. Because the gunas operate in the mental space, they are most active in the manomaya and vijnanamaya koshas, the layers of the mind and inner wisdom. As such, yoga practices that support and nourish these koshas also support the rebalancing of the gunas.
Starting with the first limb of yoga, the yamas offer guidance on how we interact with the world around us. Through the five yamas, we:
Act with kindness and strive to cause no harm (ahimsa)
Speak and live with sincerity and authenticity (satya)
Use our time and resources wisely (asteya)
Conserve our energy, including mental and emotional energy (brahmacharya)
Release attachment to what no longer serves us (aparigraha)
The second limb, the niyamas, offer guidance on how we care for and relate to ourselves. Through the niyamas, we:
Keep our bodies, minds, and environments clean and healthy (saucha)
Practice gratitude and contentment with what we have (santosha)
Show up for ourselves with consistency and effort (tapas)
Reflect on our thoughts, behaviors, and patterns without judgment (svadhyaya)
Cultivate trust and surrender to something greater, whether God, the universe, or our higher self (ishvara pranidhana)
Among these, the niyama svadhyaya is especially relevant to the gunas. It is through honest reflection that we begin to recognize the energetic patterns within us. One powerful tool for svadhyaya is journaling.
Writing down the thoughts and feelings about a particular situation can help discern why certain events caused certain reactions; whether those reactions are rajasic or tamasic in nature or even sattvic; how do those reactions make you feel; and what actions, if any, can be taken to reduce the negative effects. Journaling is also a great way to track progress towards reducing rajas and tamas fueled patterns as well as celebrate sattvic growth.
By writing down our thoughts and feelings about a particular situation, we gain insight into what triggered us, how we reacted, and which guna may have been dominant: rajas, tamas, or sattva. Journaling helps us ask:
Why did I respond this way?
Was my reaction driven by agitation (rajas) or heaviness (tamas)?
Did I feel centered, clear, and calm (sattva)?
What can I do to shift my response next time?
Over time, this practice can track our progress; highlighting where we're reducing rajasic and tamasic patterns and where sattvic clarity is taking root.
To dive deeper into the vijnanamaya kosha, we turn to three more limbs of yoga: pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), and dhyana (meditation). These practices develop inner calm, prepare the mind for insight, and create space for deeper self-awareness. The benefits of these practices emerge gradually and this process requires patience and dedication. The yama asteya (wise use of time and energy) and the niyama tapas (steadfast effort) offer vital support on this path of deep self-discovery. Through them, we learn to channel our energy into practices that nurture sattva and support lasting inner transformation.
Concluding Thoughts
Emerging from the origins of the universe, the three gunas are elements of primordial energy that shape all of existence. They are both cosmic forces and deeply personal, woven into our inner landscape through the manomaya and vijnanamaya koshas. Rajas, tamas, and sattva form the energetic blueprint of our personality and sense of self.
Rajas fuels our motivation, passion, and drive to move forward. Tamas gives us the ability to rest, restore, and slow down. You might imagine rajas as a spark, an inner fire, and tamas as the cool water that keeps the flame from burning out of control. When these two are balanced and neither dominates, sattva can rise. This is the state of harmony, clarity, and inner peace.
Recognizing our own suffering is the first gateway into sattva, a clear mind and an unburdened heart. Though rajas and tamas can be the source of agitation or heaviness, they also bring essential elements of joy, vitality, and rest. The gunas are not inherently good or bad. They are simply energy; constantly in motion, reshaping how we experience ourselves and the world.
With awareness, intention, and consistent practice, we can learn to observe these subtle forces within us. And as we begin to understand their rhythms, we gain the power to shift, rebalance, and evolve. The journey toward sattva is not about denying the other gunas, but about honoring their place while consciously cultivating harmony. In the end, the gunas remind us that transformation is always possible. Who we are is never fixed, we are always becoming something new. .
Bibliography
1 - Desikachar, T.K.V. The Heart of Yoga, 84, 88. Inner Traditions International, 1995.
2 - Easwaran, Eknath (introduced and translated by). The Bhagavad Gita, 44-47, 222. Nilgiri Press, 2011.
3 - Stephens, Mark. Teaching Yoga Book, 57-59. North Atlantic Books, 2010.
Cultivating Chill hopes you found the content informative and helpful. If you have any questions or want to share anything, please feel free to leave a comment.
Disclaimer: Cultivating Chill is a space where we explore various topics about yoga, yoga science, and all the yoga things in-between. As a result, there may be content that may not align with personal points of view or beliefs. Neither Cultivating Chill nor any authors are trying to judge or claim authority on a topic. Cultivating Chill is a safe space to share ideas, information, and more about yoga–we are exploring and growing and open to trying new things.
Please feel to take what speaks to you and leave the rest.