The Gita according to Gandhi 12

The Gita according to Gandhi -Mahadev Desai

B. THE GITA VIEW 2. THE GUNAS Those characterized by sattva rise upward, those by rajas remain of the earth earthy, those by tamas go down to the lowest species (XIV. 18). The terms are further applied to represent modes, aspects, characters or tendencies of men and things, of activity and temperament, saitvika indicating the highest state of selflessness, rajasa that of calculating selfishness, and tamasa of blind passion and fury. Make as many permutations and combinations as possible of infinitely varying degrees of these constituents and you have an explanation of the astonishing diversity that you find in the universe. He who has seen the play and interplay of these gunas and who can detach himself from them, he who can isolate himself from them and realize the unity at the basis of this diversity is a seer a tattvaoid who has known the truth of things, he is free, his action does not bind him, his action is no action. That is the metaphysical aspect of the doctrine of gunas, as guna also means subordinate, not principal, and hence shadow not substance.