In this episode, Swamiji explains Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verse 12, where Shree Krishna declares: “Whatever states of being are manifested by the three modes of material nature—goodness, passion, and ignorance—know that they are all created by Me. Yet, I am not under them; they are under Me.”
Swamiji clarifies that the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas) are the building blocks of material existence. Every thought, action, and quality in the world is a mixture of these modes, and all originate from God. However, God Himself is transcendental—He is never bound or influenced by them.
Through vivid narration, Swamiji shows how:
Sattva guna (goodness) manifests as clarity, wisdom, and harmony. Rajo guna (passion) manifests as ambition, restlessness, and desire-driven activity. Tamo guna (ignorance) manifests as inertia, confusion, and darkness. He emphasizes that while these gunas shape human behavior, they are ultimately God’s energies, and He remains beyond them. This teaching inspires seekers to rise above the gunas by cultivating devotion, recognizing that liberation comes not by being trapped in goodness, passion, or ignorance, but by transcending them through surrender to God.
Listeners are invited to reflect on their own tendencies, understand the interplay of the gunas in daily life, and strive to connect with the Divine who is beyond all modes.
About Swami Mukundananda: Swami Mukundananda is a renowned spiritual leader, Vedic scholar, Bhakti saint, best-selling author, and an international authority on the subject of mind management. He is the founder of the unique yogic system called JKYog. Swamiji holds distinguished degrees in Engineering and Management from two of India’s most prestigious institutions—IIT and IIM. Having taken the renounced order of life (sanyas), he is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, and has been sharing Vedic wisdom across the globe for decades.
🔗 Link to the playlist: Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 7