Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.168

c16.168

**The Three 'Guṇas'.** A deeper analysis explains the different states of Chitta as being influenced by one or other of the three Guṇas, *Sattva*, *Rajas*, and *Tamas*, the elemental laws governing all existence and activity. The three Guṇas mark out the corresponding conditions of Chitta to be those of (1) *Prakhyā*, (2) *Pravṛitti*, and (3) *Sthiti*. *Prakhyā* is characterized by *prakāśa* and *prasāda*. *Prakāsa* indicates that, being itself luminous, it lights up objects by its own light. *Prasāda* is the *ānanda* or bliss of equipoise. This mental stage is further marked by *prīti*, fellow-feeling, and *khyāti*, discrimination.