The Maha Gunas - The Primary Forces in the Shadow

In Eastern philosophy, particularly within the framework of Hinduism and Yoga, the maha gunas—tamas, rajas, and sattwa—provide a profound lens through which we can understand both individual psychology and the broader dynamics of world events. 

The maha gunas are the primary forces within the shadow.

They are the fundamental qualities or energies that exist in all of creation and shape our thoughts, behaviors, and actions.

These energies are constantly in flux, and their balance or imbalance within an individual or a society significantly impacts psychological states and collective experiences.

Tamas

Tamas is the guna most associated with the shadow, as it is the force that creates the unconscious.

It is the opposite of sattwa, which is light, knowledge, and self-awareness.

Tamas is experienced as darkness, inertia, ignorance, disease, and stagnation. It represents the forces of decay, lethargy, and resistance to change. When tamas is dominant, it can manifest as confusion, depression, fear, and an unwillingness to move forward.

From a psychological point of view, tamas corresponds to the unconscious. Carl Jung said that the whole unconscious is our shadow, including the personal unconscious with its repressed memories and forgotten experiences, and the collective unconscious, which contains all the archetypes shared by humanity. As viewed from Eastern philosophy, these archetypes can be tamasic, rajasic, or sattwic.

When we are overly tamasic, egoism and ignorance rule, we struggle with denial, avoidance, and a lack of self-awareness, leading to the repression of our fears, desires, and traumas, which inflates the shadow. When tamas dominates, it leads to self-destructive behaviors and harmful interactions with others.

On a global scale, tamas can be seen in the persistence of ignorance, apathy, and oppressive systems that resist change. Societal stagnation, where inequalities are perpetuated, and progress is hindered, reflects the dominance of tamasic energy. Wars, environmental degradation, and social injustices often have their roots in tamasic inertia, where the failure to address underlying issues leads to greater conflict and suffering.

Rajas

Rajas is the guna of activity, passion, desire, and restlessness.

It is the driving force behind ambition, competition, and movement. Rajas makes us want more than we need or can use effectively in our lives. It is raw desire, and when frustrated, it can lead us to ruin. While rajas can lead to growth and progress when under the control of sattwa (self-awareness and wisdom), it can also cause greed, passion, obsession, agitation, anxiety, and conflict when it becomes excessive.

In the human psyche, rajas fuels the ego's desires and attachments. It drives us to achieve, compete, and seek pleasure but can also lead to restlessness, dissatisfaction, and a sense of never having enough. A rajasic mind is often caught up in pursuing material success, power, and status, which can create internal and external conflict. When rajas is out of balance, it amplifies our fears, desires, and frustrations, leading to aggressive or impulsive behaviors. 

Rajasic energy is evident in modern society's fast-paced, competitive nature. Economic inequality, political instability, and environmental exploitation are often driven by unchecked rajasic forces, where the relentless pursuit of growth and dominance overshadows the need for balance and sustainability. The rapid changes and tensions in the world, including geopolitical conflicts and social unrest, are manifestations of rajasic energies in action.

Sattwa

Sattwa is the guna that enables self-awareness and spiritual growth.

It is experienced as balance, harmony, clarity, light, knowledge and revelation, wisdom, understanding, and compassion. It represents purity, wisdom, and the pursuit of truth. When sattwa predominates, there is peace, contentment, and a deep sense of connectedness with the self and the world.

Sattwa in the mind leads to clarity, compassion, and self-awareness. A sattwic person is in touch with their higher self and can see beyond the ego's desires and fears. This state of balance allows for the integration of the shadow, where we can acknowledge and work through unconscious material without being overwhelmed by it. Sattwa brings about healing and transformation, enabling us to transcend our limitations and contribute positively to the world.

Sattwic energy is reflected in movements toward peace, social justice, and environmental stewardship. When sattwa is present in society, there is a collective push toward fairness, sustainability, and the well-being of all beings. Initiatives that promote education, human rights, and ecological balance are expressions of sattwic energy at work. Although often overshadowed by tamasic and rajasic forces, sattwa provides the necessary counterbalance to guide humanity toward a more harmonious future.

The Interaction of the Gunas and the Shadow

The interplay of tamas, rajas, and sattwa directly influences the shadow and our collective experience of the world. As understood in Jungian psychology, the shadow consists of the parts of ourselves that we reject or deny. The act of repression, in itself, is tamasic. Many of the aspects we repress are dark, hidden, and feared, and by nature, tamasic. However, we also repress positive sattwic qualities if tamas is dominant and our positive qualities are suppressed.

Rajas is desire, either for tamas, as materialism and hedonism, or for higher knowledge and self-development, sattwa. Therefore, rajas can exacerbate dark shadow elements, leading to outward expressions of aggression, conflict, and turmoil, or if we are aligned with sattwa, our positive qualities are hidden in the golden shadow.

For example, when a society is heavily influenced by tamasic energy, its people may become apathetic, allowing injustices to persist. As rajasic energy rises, this can lead to explosive conflicts driven by the unacknowledged fears and desires of the collective shadow. Without the balancing force of sattwa, which brings clarity and compassion, these energies can spiral into destructive patterns. 

However, when sattwa is cultivated—through practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and self-reflection, individuals and societies can begin integrating the shadow. Integration involves acknowledging the darker aspects of the self, understanding their origins, and transforming them into sources of strength and wisdom. On a global scale, promoting sattwic values can lead to more just and peaceful societies, where conflicts are resolved through dialogue and cooperation rather than through violence and domination. 

The Role of Eastern Philosophy in Addressing World Events

Eastern philosophies, such as yoga and tantra, emphasize balance and self-awareness and offer us valuable tools for navigating the challenges of the modern world. By understanding and working with the gunas using mantras or practices such as Ajapa Japa, we can strive to create a more balanced and harmonious existence, both individually and collectively.

In practice, this means dedicating time to foster sattwa, seeking knowledge, practising compassion, and cultivating a sense of inner peace. Practices such as Ajapa Japa can balance the maha gunas, reduce tamas, and cultivate sattwa as self-awareness. Meditation practices empower us to recognize when tamas or rajas are dominating our thoughts and actions and take steps to restore balance. As part of this process of increasing sattwa, we are advised by the yoga texts to simplify our lives and address the root causes of our fears and desires.

Promoting sattwic values counteracts the negative effects of tamasic and rajasic influences on a societal level. Education, social justice, and environmental sustainability are all areas where sattwa can be encouraged, leading to a more equitable and peaceful world.

Conclusion

Meditating on, and bringing the experience of, the maha gunas into our consciousness enhances our understanding of the interplay of psychological forces within us as individuals and across the globe. By applying this understanding to our current global situation, we can understand how any imbalance of these energies contributes to the conflicts, inequalities, and crises we face today.

Through the integration of Eastern philosophy and Jungian psychology, we are offered a path to healing and transformation.

By cultivating sattwa and addressing the shadow within ourselves and our societies, we can work toward a future where harmony, clarity, and compassion prevail. This approach not only aids in personal growth but also in fostering a world that reflects these higher values, ultimately leading to a more just, peaceful, and sustainable existence for all.