Guṇas
The key to understanding all Yoga techniques.
Our whole education system is interwoven by a certain element of the Indian philosophies, called the guṇas, or 'modes of energy'. They are the single most important tool that we use during our practice, training and research.
Everything under the sun is formed by an intricate, endlessly weaving pattern of energy. How that energy behaves, is described by the guṇas, or modes of energy. These modes of energy describe the most essential dynamics that any and every part of life has.
There are three modes. Tamas is energy contracting. Rajas is when energy is expanding. And sattva is when energy is stable.
While observing these three behaviour types of an energy stream, you can notice that, among other qualities, tamas leads to passivity, density, heaviness. While rajas leads to activity, diffusion, lightness. And sattva to balance, stability and constancy.
In the end, when all stages have been fulfilled, this will have brought the practitioner to a very advanced stage of samadhi (higher consciousness), that the ancient seers of India called nirvikalpa samadhi.
This makes him or her a strong, compassionate & intelligent contributor to human spiritual evolution.
What we use them for
The guṇas can be observed directly by any person at any time, both externally and internally, through their own consciousness. However, to learn to understand them more deeply than we already naturally do, we need to grow our awareness of the more subtle ways in which they work through, in and around us. During spiritual practice, this sensitisation is what helps us to at the same time understand better what is happening to us, and to teach us how we can gain a healthy, spiritually constructive sense of control and eventually mastery over our inner life and our outer activities.
The modes of energy slowly and gradually become the tool we use to determine what directions to take while doing physical training, meditation exercises or in our contact with others. They help us ensure that our practice stays constructive, and understand why things sometimes don't work out the way we expected. They become a guideline from being a mere beginner to developing self-directedness, confidence and autonomy on your Path.
Intuitive logic
When we observe the gunas at all times — during our daily life, during spiritual exercises, during our work, while raising our kids — they become a great help for us. Our observance of them, reveals the intuitive logic that lies behind the interrelation of all things.
Intuitive, because we use our feeling and intuition to be aware of them. Logical, because they will speak to us of the natural synthesis of how in any given situation, the different elements, objects, life forms, people involved relate to one another.
In a poetic sense, they are like a telescope to observe the structure of the chaotic beauty of the cosmos. They are like observing of the ocean currents. They are like watching an autumn leaf being blown through the air by the roller coaster of the wind. All within yourself.
An ancient practice
Observing the modes of energy is a very ancient practice, known by many of the world's wisdom traditions, although often hidden within layers of symbolism. In the Vedas of ancient India, they are the source of the descriptions of the differences between the various deities, the many states of mind, the angles and perspectives of looking at reality, described in the it's shlokas and by the Sages from the Upanishads, ancient wisdom texts from India.
They are the source of the stories of the holy trinities that so many traditions describe. The Father, Son, Holy Spirit of Western Christianity. The Father, Son, Mother of Eastern Christianity. The Three Jewels of Buddhism. The Trimurti of Hinduism. And many other sets of three in metaphysical systematics.
In our curriculum
In our curriculum, we start studying the gunas from day one. There's not a single exercise that we will be doing, that doesn't involve an observation of the gunas.
And it gives our members a great freedom: they do not need to ask their teachers endlessly to explain the benefits and disadvantages of a particular life situation to them. Teachers simply need to show them how to observe the gunas in any situation and keep reminding them of how this can be done. Then, when they have become very steady at doing this, they can observe everything for themselves and can become their own teacher. Through this process, they become ready to do spiritual research.
It is a slow and gradual process, but also a steady and sure road to deep development, that is a great joy to learn, will lead to a more lovingly interaction with others, and to a growing and eventually profound feeling of inner peace. Brought about by you. Under guidance, but by yourself and increasingly independently.
