The three Gunahs - sattva-rajas-tamas

WHO AM I?
We were all really at ear. This time it was not a free topic where we could just freely add our common sense thinking. Mr. Henk Rooseboom gave us a little introduction into a 5000 year old religous book: The Mahabhara and in particular the Bhagavad Gītā (litteraly "Song of the Lord") of the Hindus.

The three Gunahs are very different in nature and they have different attributes. They become important in the book when Arjuna has to go into battle and is afraid. Krishna comes and convinces him of the absolute need to fight. He explains it to him via exploring the question of : "Who am I?" This is the ultimate question which allows us to do or not to do what we really need to do. We are finally able to set our next step, - make choices and know our path, if we have answered this question.

Sattvi is for : peace, rest, creativity, harmony, balance, patience etc.;It is the silence, being clear in one's mind, seeing reality the way it is, alertness, being efficient, having a good memory, happiness, simple emotions

Rajas stand for: passion, jearning for, being dependent on, using means to get to aims, being restless, giving and taking, being aroused, tempered, unhappy, doing things for the sake of its result

Tamas stand for: no motion, heavy, slow, lethargic, foolishness, keeping things in its proper form, (otherwise we would grow 9 meters high), borders, chaos, being lazy, posponing matters of importance, not wanting to be involved, narrow mindedness

These three Gunahs can also refer to the way we eat. Sattvi food is salad, fresh froot,etc.;Rajas food is very spcy and hot and Tamas is warmed up food or rotten food.

Getting back to the principal question : WHO AM I ?

We can answer in the form of the Gunahs first. For example: "I am happy, passionate or lazy." If we answer with one of the three forms we answer about the state in which we are at that exact moment. We are only talking about a special moment. Yet things are changing. So who are we ? The answer is: Neti Neti (Sanskriet for: Not this - not this).

In the end we are neither one of the three Gunahs, but we are the observer that stands behind us and gives the answer to our own question. There we are ...