There are three Gunas of nature. Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. Tamas implies fixation to a form. Rajas implies energetic movement and Satva implies expansion. For example, water exists in all three forms. Water, when frozen, is Tamas; when moving like a river, it is Rajas, and when it takes the form of clouds, it is Sattva. The right balance of all the Gunas is necessary for the survival and growth of nature.
In Indian scriptures Tamas has been linked to Danavas and Sattva has been associated with Devas. Devas and Danavas are always at the fight. Sometimes Danavas rule the world and sometimes devas rule the world. When Danavas ruled the world, it became very prosperous within their kingdom, but at the same time, they stopped the expansion and growth of the world. When Danavas rules the world, the world expands. Lord Shiva is prayed by both the Devas and Danavas and he equally blesses both. Shiva is not biased towards one Guna or the other. He blesses everybody equally, whoever wants to explore different possibilities.
I feel that many people who associate themselves with Sattva Guna become excessively obsessed with the same and fail to understand that every Guna has its role to play in nature. That is the reason they develop an "ego" with the Sattva guna. "I" am working for the welfare of the society, for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden, for a cause and all different types of identification take place with the activities driven by Sattva. There is no doubt that the people with "Tamas" and "Rajas" are equally fixated. In fact, there are more people fixated with "Tamas" and "Rajas" and that is why we see so many people in this world who can do anything to earn more money and get powerful positions. We see people around us driven by their ambitions, willing to work day and night to fulfil their ambitions. However, the difference being that the "so called wise people" of the society acknowledge the "ego" of Tamasik and Rajasik people but ignore the "ego" of the Sattvik people. That is why it becomes increasingly difficult for the Sattvik to correct their course.
The spiritual pursuit should not be confused with the Gunas. Shiva is the sole guide of the spiritual process, unbound by any frame. He blesses both the Devas and Danavas equally. In the realm of spirit, there can be no fixation on form. At the quantum level, within the Higgs field, all matter takes form and then merges back into the field, which remains unaffected. Whenever a realized soul acts in this world, it functions within the domain of Sattva, striving for the growth of all human beings while recognizing that Tamas, Rajas, and Sattva are all part of the same reality and therefore essential. This realization is challenging, as many of our fixations are deeply rooted in the unconscious, and unless we confront these deep impressions, they will dominate our existence. It takes absolute awareness for Krishna to be a charioteer rather than a warrior on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, fully aware that He could win the battle instantly. He understands that while the Pandavas must win for the balance of the three Gunas to be restored, what matters more is that they gain the wisdom to handle their victory. Without that wisdom, they too will likely fall into the trap of fixations. That is why Krishna is guiding the Pandavas at every step making them aware of their own fixations to the social narratives, conventions, and rules and to act in a state of complete awareness.
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