The Three Gunas

The three gunas (rajas-satwas-tamas) represent the factors in any force transaction. The transaction is always threefold. Interaction between pure opposites has no result. There is always a mediating or neutralizing factor which shapes the outcome. Below is a list of various interpretations or applications of this principle.

The first term is the masculine, positive, energetic side of the transaction. This is the force that drives the transaction. The last term is the feminine, receptive, attractive side of the transaction that acts as an attractor, energy sink, or inertial resistance. The middle term is the neutralizing factor that unifies, shapes, mediates, or tangentialy modifies the transaction*.

rajas-satvas-tamas

yang-tao-yin

active-neutralizing*-passive

masculine*-androgynous-feminine*

positive*-neutral*-negative*

anode-grid-cathode

energy-force-mass

hard-malleable-soft

dynamic*-mutable-static

gas-liquid-solid

divides*-conforms-coheres

content*-structure*-form

compression-shear-tension

engine-driver-car

horse-driver-cart

emotions-mind-body

input-controller-output

energy-constraints-resources

aggressor-intercessor*-defendor

plaintiff-judge-defendant

management-union-labor

spirit-soul-body

figure-pattern-ground

sensation*-thought*-feeling*

percept*-concept-memory

center-radius-circumference

centrifugal-tangential-centripetal

A-relation-B

symbol-meaning*-referent

operator*-expression-value

syntax-grammar-words

linear-shape-curvilinear

proceedure-recipe-ingrediants

code-information-data

function-code-value

clock-processor-memory

processor-program-data