Rajo Tamo Sato

The concepts of Rajo, Tamo, and Sato are referenced in various hymns of the Guru Granth
Sahib.
Here are a few examples:

Rajo Guna (Rajas): This quality is associated with activity and passion. It is mentioned in the
context of the material world and the challenges it brings to spiritual growth.

‘ਰਜ ਤਮ ਸਤ ਕਲ ਤੇਰੀ ਮਾਇਆ’ ਮਾਰੂ ਸੋਹਲੇ ਮ ੫

https://punjabipedia.org/topic.aspx?txt=%E0%A8%B0%E0%A8%9C%E0%A9%8B%E0%A8%9
7%E0%A9%81%E0%A8%A3&k=4

Tamo Guna (Tamas): This quality represents darkness and ignorance. It is often linked with
inertia and confusion, hindering spiritual progress.

‘ਤਮ ਸੰ ਸਾਰ ਚਰਨ ਲਗ ਤਰੀਐ’ ਮੁਦਾਵਣੀ ਮ ੫

https://punjabipedia.org/topic.aspx?txt=%E0%A8%A4%E0%A8%AE%E0%A9%8B%E0%A8%9
7%E0%A9%81%E0%A8%A3&k=4

Sato Gun(Sattva):
This is the quality of purity, wisdom, and harmony. It is the most desired state, representing
balance and clarity

https://punjabipedia.org/topic.aspx?txt=%E0%A8%B8%E0%A8%A4%E0%A9%8B%E0%A8%9
7%E0%A9%81%E0%A8%A3&k=4

Rajo Guna is characterized by passion, activity, and the drive for material success. It creates
restlessness and is associated with desire and ambition. A key aspect of Rajo is that it fuels
action and can lead to both positive accomplishments and negative attachments.

According to Gurbani Bhagat Kabir Ji's hymn "kedara rag discusses how all these qualities
lead to worldly attachments and are allusion of maya: "Rajo, Tamo Sato are all the love of
worldly pleasures, entices the mind, and one falls into evil thoughts" Bhagat Kabir ji in Kedara
Rag , Page 1123 says

ਰਜ ਗੁਣ ਤਮ ਗੁਣ ਸਤ ਗੁਣ ਕਹੀਐ ਇਹ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਭ ਮਾਇਆ ॥

Raajas, the quality of energy and activity; Taamas, the quality of darkness and inertia; and
Satvas, the quality of purity and light, are all called the creations of Maya, Your illusion.

From all these 3 stages of mind turia awastha (sehaj )is only stage which a Gurmukh is to
achieve and that will lead to reallization of NAM.
ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਪਸਾਰਾ ਸਭ ਵਰਤੈ ਆਕਾਰੀ ॥
trai gun māiā mōh pasārā sabh varatai ākārī .
RS
(Mohu) attachment to (maaiaa) the worldplay of (trai = three, gun = attributes Tamas, Rajas,
Sattva)state of ego actions (pasaara = expanse) exists everywhere and (vartai) afflicts (sabh) all
(aakaari = bodies) creatures and they keep coming back to the world because of that
attachment are reborn.
SS
ਤ੍ਰਿਗੁਣੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਦਾ ਮੋਹ (ਆਪਣਾ) ਖਿਲਾਰਾ (ਖਿਲਾਰ ਕੇ) ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਉਤੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਪਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।
ਤੁਰੀਆ ਗੁਣੁ ਸਤਸੰ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਦਰੀ ਪਾਰਿ ਉਤਾਰੀ ॥੨॥
turīā gun satasangat pāīai nadarī pār utārī .2.
RS
(Tureeaa) the fourth (gunu) attribute/state of transcending the three attributes of ego actions and
living by Divine commands (paaeeai) is acquired (satsangati) in holy congregation; and then
one (utaari = disembarks) lands (paari) on the far shore with (nadri) of Divine grace. 2.
SS
(ਇਹਨਾਂ ਤਿੰ ਨਾਂ ਗੁਣਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਉਤਾਂਹ ਹੈ) ਤੁਰੀਆ ਗੁਣ (ਇਹ ਗੁਣ) ਸਾਧ ਸੰ ਗਤ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਹਾਸਲ ਹੁੰ ਦਾ ਹੈ (ਜਿਹੜਾ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਇਸ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਨੂੰ
ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰ ਲੈਂ ਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ) ਮਿਹਰ ਦੀ ਨਿਗਾਹ ਕਰ ਕੇ (ਉਸ ਨੂੰ) ਸੰ ਸਾਰ-ਸਮੁੰ ਦਰ ਤੋਂ ਪਾਰ ਲੰਘਾ ਲੈਂ ਦਾ ਹੈ ॥੨॥

According to Art of Living site :

https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/navratri/the-three-gunas#:~:text=Rajas%20has%20its%20benef
its%20when,effect%20of%20the%20Rajo%20Guna.

The Three Gunas

In this article

This Mother Divine is a symbolization of the creation, and the entire creation is made up of five
elements. These five elements have three qualities. These are:

Sattva
Rajas
Tamas
These are the names given to the three qualities, and everything in this creation is governed by
these three qualities. They also relate to our state of consciousness, such as waking, dreaming
and sleeping state.

Sattva
Now, there is a broad understanding of what Sattva is, what Rajas is and what Tamas is. Sattva
is the quality which is responsible for clarity, wisdom and righteous action. When Sattva is
dominating in our environment, or in the body, that is when we feel light, happy, pleasant, joyful,
alert, awake, and our perceptions are very clear.

Rajas
Rajas is the quality which is responsible for activity in the body and mind. We cannot ‘act’
without a certain level of Rajas. Rajas has its benefits when it is in balance with the other two
Gunas. However, when Rajas increases or is dominating, we get lots of thoughts, we feel
restless, we have too many desires and too many things to be done. Also, we either feel very
happy and excited, or extremely low. This is the effect of the Rajo Guna.

Tamas
Tamas is the quality which is responsible for rest in the body and mind. Without a certain level of
Tamas, one cannot ‘sleep’. However, when Tamas is not in balance, that is when delusion,
wrong understanding, dullness, etc., come forth.

At any given time, one of the three qualities dominates our life. When Sattva dominates in our
life, then Rajas and Tamas stay in the background and their effect is minimum. When Rajas
dominates, Sattva and Tamas are in the background. And when Tamas dominates, then Sattva
and Rajas are in the background, and their effect is minimal. This is the whole mechanism of life
in the world.

These three qualities are also present in our food. Our food can be Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic.
Our mind and intellect can be Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic. Our attitude and actions can be
Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic.

These three Gunas come in cycles, one after the other. It is natural to experience these three
qualities from time to time. Sometimes you feel happy, joyful, and alert (Sattva). Sometimes you
feel restless, sad, burdened with too many things to do, and have many desires (Rajas). And
sometimes you just feel dull, sleepy and lazy (Tamas).

Though we experience all the three qualities from time to time, we can still keep our levels of
Sattva high by leading a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Spiritual practices such as meditation,
chanting, etc., also contribute towards keeping the Sattva levels high. The higher the Sattva, the
more happiness and clarity one experiences.