The Dhaarmik Traditions - Indic Studies Foundation

Cupidity, wrath and hatred ; these three qualities are said to appertain to Passion
(Rajas).
Lassitude, procrastination and delusion ; these three qualities appertain to Darkness
(Tamas).
Cutting these with showers of arrows, the man of intelligence, free from
procrastination, possessed of a tranquil soul, and with his senses under subjection,
ventures to vanquish others.
Kshetrajna (Supreme Lord) is eternal and is destitute of qualities as regards its
essence. Kshetra (Prakriti or the manifest or matter) is that in which the qualities are
produced and absorbed. Hence one who understands duties, casting off qualities and
the understanding, and having his sins destroyed, and transcending the qualities,
enters the Kshetrajna.
[Note: The realization of the Self is attained when one transcends or annihilates the
three guNAs or qualities (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas). Spirit is devoid of qualities or
attributes; matter is endowed with qualities or attributes. The qualities of Sattva, Rajas
and Tamas appertain to matter or Maya. Exultation, satisfaction and joy, although
these are Sattvic qualities, are nevertheless qualities or attributes. With the aid of the
Sattvic qualities, one transcends all the qualities and discards all the qualities, as
when an athlete, pole-vaulting with the aid of a long pole, goes over (transcends) to the
other side of the bar, but it is impossible for him to take the long pole with him over the
bar, just so, likened to the pole are the Sattvic qualities which (casting off) have to be
transcended along with the other two qualities of Rajas and Tamas.
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from the Mahabharata, Santi Parva
Section CCXXXI;
Mind is identical with the manifest
From The Mahabharata
Santi Parva, Section CCXXXII
Translated by Sri Kisari Mohan Ganguli
The Creator creates with the help of Avidya (Maya or Prakriti) this universe. At first
springs up that which is called Mahat. That Mahat is speedily transformed into Mind
which is the soul of the Manifest
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