The Three Gunas: The Wick and the Flame
In the pursuit of happiness, the human mind often settles for the “Little”—or in Sanskrit, Alpam. We seek joy in objects, relationships, and achievements that are bound by time and space. Yet, the Narada Bhakti Sutras guide us toward a different horizon: the state of Bhuma, or Infinite Bliss, where love for the Divine flows in an uninterrupted succession.
To understand how we ascend to this state of infinite bliss, we must first understand the fabric of our own personality—the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas).
Swamiji offers a potent symbol: the old-style oil-fed lamp.
- Tamas is like the oil sitting in the vessel—potential energy that is stagnant, heavy, and crude.
- Rajas is the movement of that oil through the wick—activity, passion, and restlessness.
- Sattva is the moment the wick is kindled. The oil that was once heavy and dark bursts into light.
When we channel our energy correctly, the “demoniac” qualities of anger and greed are transmuted into understanding and love. The energy is the same; only the expression changes from darkness to light.
The Ramayana of the Soul
The great epic Ramayana is not merely history; it is a profound psychological map of our inner landscape. Swamiji explains that the three brothers represent the three Gunas holding the intellect (Sita) captive:
- Kumbhakarna (Tamas): Massive, asleep, inert, representing deep-seated ignorance.
- Ravana (Rajas): Ten-headed, brilliant but driven by ego, passion, and insatiable desires.
- Vibhishana (Sattva): Quiet, righteous, and eventually surrendering to Rama (God), symbolizing purity and spiritual aspiration.
The spiritual task, therefore, is to align with Vibhishana (Sattva), discarding the lower impulses of Tamas and Rajas, and eventually surrendering even Sattva to the Transcendental Self.
Bhuma vs. Alpam: The Infinite and the Finite
The central teaching of this Sutra is the critical distinction between the limited (Alpam) and the unlimited (Bhuma).
“Wherever there is something to see, something to touch, something to think about… that’s Alpam. Alpam is little.”
Swamiji reminds us that any happiness dependent on a changing condition is inherently fragile. It is a fleeting cloud that will inevitably pass. Bhuma, however, is the state described in the Upanishads where “one sees nothing else, hears nothing else, understands nothing else.” It is not an emptiness, but a Fullness (Purnam) that engulfs and transcends all perceptions.
The Honey of Existence
When one attains this state of Bhuma, the world does not disappear, but its very quality changes. The devotee sees the entire world through the lens of Divine Love and perfection. Swamiji cites the Vedic hymn:
Madhu vātā ṛtāyate. “The breeze blows sweetness. The rivers flow with sweetness.”
For the realized soul, the entire universe—despite its apparent trials and tribulations—is experienced as an exquisite expression of the perfection of God.
Scholar’s Corner
Deepen your understanding with these scriptural references highlighted in this lecture:
- Chandogya Upanishad (7.23.1): “Yo vai bhuma tat sukham nalpe sukhamasti” (That which is Infinite is Bliss; there is no bliss in the finite).
- Bhagavad Gita (6.30): “Yo mam pashyati sarvatra sarvam cha mayi pashyati…” (“He who sees Me everywhere and sees all in Me; I am never lost to him, and he is never lost to Me.”)
- Vedic Hymn: Madhu vātā ṛtāyate… (The Hymn to Sweetness, often associated with Rig Veda 1.90.6-8).
Glossary
Key Sanskrit terms to enhance your study:
- Gunas: The three fundamental modes or qualities of nature (Sattva: purity/light; Rajas: activity/passion; Tamas: inertia/darkness).
- Bhuma: The Infinite; the Unconditioned Reality; the Great.
- Alpam: The small; the trivial; the finite; the limited.
- Anubhava: Direct intuitive experience or revelation; spiritual realization.
Watch the full lecture here: https://youtu.be/dXryz_zNqTs
Join the Digital Sangha: https://bit.ly/4dgDWKn
This study guide is drawn from the archived teachings of Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda.