Gunas--The three modes of material nature.

There are three gunas, or modes of material nature:

• Sattva-guna: the mode of material goodness
• Rajo-guna: the material mode of passion
• Tamo-guna: the mode of ignorance, or darkness of material nature.

They make possible our mental, emotional and physical experiences of the universe. Without the influence of modes, thought, value judgement and action are impossible for the conditioned soul. In Western philosophy the word mode is used to distinguish between two aspects of material nature: that which is immeasurable (called natura naturans, the creative nature) and that which seems measurable. Creative nature is a single divine substance that manifests through modes, the created nature, the material world of physical and mental variety. When creative nature acts, it assumes characteristic modes of behaviour: creation, maintenance and destruction.

The modes may be compared to the three primary colors:

• White :- The colour white symbolizes sattva-guna, the mode of goodness. This mode is pure, illuminating, and sinless. Goodness conditions the soul with the sense of happiness and knowledge.
• Red :- The colour red symbolizes rajo-guna, the mode of passion, full of longings and desires. By the influence of passion the soul engages in works of material accomplishment.
• Black :- The colour black symbolizes tamo-guna, the mode of ignorance, which blinds the soul to madness, indolence and sleep