Tri-Guna Framework and PANAS as two ways to measure a soul's orientation to the world.

Today let’s understand ourselves!

There are in general four dimensions of self discovery:

Mental and Emotional State:

• How do you typically feel? Calm and content, restless and ambitious, or dull and lethargic?
• What are your predominant thoughts? Positive, optimistic, and focused, or negative, chaotic, and indecisive?
• How do you react to challenges? Do you approach them with clarity and determination, impulsivity and aggression, or avoidance and procrastination?

Lifestyle and Habits:

• What kind of lifestyle do you prefer? Simple and balanced, active and competitive, or indulgent and sedentary?
• How do you approach your work and responsibilities? With diligence and efficiency, excessive ambition and restlessness, or carelessness and procrastination?
• What are your eating habits? Balanced and mindful, overly indulgent, or irregular and unfocused?

Values and Beliefs:

• What are your core values? Truth, harmony, and compassion, power, success, and competition, or pleasure, comfort, and security?
• How do you view the world? Optimistic and hopeful, full of opportunities and challenges, or pessimistic and cynical?
• What is your attitude towards spirituality and religion? Deeply spiritual and seeking inner peace, focused on material success, or indifferent and apathetic?

Relationships:

• How do you interact with others? Cooperatively and harmoniously, assertively and competitively, or passively and indifferently?
• What is important to you in relationships? Trust, understanding, and support, dominance and control, or dependence and comfort?

The three modes of material nature (prakriti) are:

1.?????? Sattva (goodness): Characterized by clarity, peace, knowledge, and purity.

2.?????? Rajas (passion): Associated with activity, desire, ambition, and attachment.

3.?????? Tamas (ignorance): Linked to inertia, delusion, laziness, and confusion.

These modes are said to be constantly competing for dominance in the material world and within individuals. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that understanding and transcending these modes is an important part of spiritual growth.

For a person to determine which mode might be dominant in their life at any given time, they could reflect on their current state of mind, behaviors, and choices. Some indicators might include:

1.?????? Sattva: Feeling peaceful, clear-minded, and inclined towards knowledge and virtue

2.?????? Rajas: Experiencing restlessness, intense desires, or being overly focused on action and results

3.?????? Tamas: Feeling lethargic, confused, or prone to escapist behaviors

It's important to note that all three modes are usually present to some degree, with one potentially being more prominent at any given time. The goal in many Hindu traditions is to ultimately transcend all three modes and attain a state of pure consciousness beyond their influence.

In you, the three modes of nature are always fighting for supremacy; what dominates you now? Is it the mode of goodness, passion or ignorance?

Mode of Goodness (Sattva)

• You feel calm, serene, and peaceful.
• You're motivated by a desire for knowledge, wisdom, and self-improvement.
• You're compassionate, empathetic, and understanding.

Mode of Passion (Rajas)

• You feel energetic, ambitious, and driven.
• You're motivated by a desire for success, recognition, and achievement.
• You're passionate, competitive, and sometimes impatient.

Mode of Ignorance (Tamas)

• You feel dull, lethargic, and disconnected.
• You're motivated by a desire for comfort, security, and familiarity.
• You're resistant to change, critical, and sometimes apathetic.

Reflect on your current state and choose the mode that best describes you. Keep in mind that these modes can fluctuate, and it's not uncommon to experience a mix of all three. It's normal for people to experience all three modes at different times, and the ideal is to cultivate more sattva while understanding and managing the influences of rajas and tamas.

This color-coded system provides a simple, visual way for people to reflect on their current state of mind and potentially track changes over time. It can be a useful tool for personal development, mindfulness practices, or even in therapeutic settings to help individuals become more aware of their mental and emotional patterns.

Which mode do you think dominates you now?

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Color Coding:

• Sattva (Goodness): White or Light Blue
• Rajas (Passion): Red ?
• Tamas (Ignorance): Gray, Black, Dark Gray or Dark Brown

Instructions:

Color Selection:

1. Prepare three sets of colored papers or cards with the corresponding colors.
2. Ask participants to choose the color that resonates with them the most or reflects their current state.?
3. Provide a brief explanation of each mode and its associated color.. For example:

Sattva (White/Light Blue):

·??????? I feel calm and peaceful

·??????? I'm focused on personal growth and learning

·??????? I'm inclined towards selfless actions

Rajas (Red/Orange):

·??????? I feel restless and driven

·??????? I'm focused on achieving goals and results

·??????? I'm experiencing strong desires or ambitions

·??????? Tamas (Black/Dark Gray/ Black/ Dark Brown):

·??????? I feel lethargic or unmotivated

·??????? I'm prone to procrastination or avoidance

·??????? I'm experiencing confusion or lack of clarity

1. Allow participants to reflect on their choice and write down why they chose that particular color.

Color Sorting:

• Create a larger collection of colored papers.
• Ask participants to sort the papers into three piles based on their perception of which mode each color represents.
• Discuss the group's choices and any disagreements.

Color Creation:

• Provide participants with basic art supplies.
• Ask them to create a color that represents their current state.
• Analyze the created colors and discuss their interpretations.

Interpretation:

• White/Light Blue (Sattva): Indicates a calm, peaceful, and growth-oriented state.
• Red (Rajas): Suggests a dynamic, driven, and ambitious state.
• Gray/ Black/ Dark Gray/ Dark Brown (Tamas): May indicate a dull, lethargic, or resistant state.

Variations:

• Use colored stickers or stamps instead of papers.
• Create a color wheel with the three modes and ask participants to mark where they are.
• Use this activity as a conversation starter to explore which mode participants are in and why.

Here's a set of questions to help determine which mode of nature (Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas) currently dominates an individual:

Self-Assessment: Modes of Nature

1. How do you typically start your day?

A)????? With meditation or a peaceful activity (Sattva)

B)????? By immediately jumping into tasks and activities (Rajas)

C)????? By hitting the snooze button and struggling to get out of bed (Tamas)

2. How do you approach your work or studies?

A)????? With a focus on learning and doing your best (Sattva)

B)????? With a strong drive to achieve and succeed (Rajas)

C)????? With procrastination and avoidance (Tamas)

3. How do you feel after a meal?

A)????? Light and energized (Sattva)

B)????? Satisfied but ready to get back to work (Rajas)

C)????? Heavy and sleepy (Tamas)

4. How do you handle conflicts or disagreements?

A)????? By seeking a peaceful resolution and understanding (Sattva)

B)????? By arguing your point passionately (Rajas)

C)????? By avoiding the conflict or giving in easily (Tamas)

5. What kind of entertainment do you prefer?

A)????? Educational or uplifting content (Sattva)

B)????? Exciting and action-packed shows or activities (Rajas)

C)????? Mindless or escapist entertainment (Tamas)

6. How do you feel about your future?

A)????? Optimistic and content, focusing on personal growth (Sattva)

B)????? Ambitious and driven to achieve specific goals (Rajas)

C)????? Uncertain and indifferent (Tamas)

7. How do you react to stress or pressure?

A)????? By staying calm and finding constructive solutions (Sattva)

B)????? By becoming more driven and working harder (Rajas)

C)????? By feeling overwhelmed and shutting down (Tamas)

8. How do you spend your free time?

A)????? Engaging in hobbies that enrich your mind and soul (Sattva)

B)????? Pursuing activities that give you a sense of achievement (Rajas)

C)????? Doing nothing in particular or indulging in passive activities (Tamas)

9. How do you feel about helping others?

A)????? You feel a deep sense of joy and fulfillment (Sattva)

B)????? You help others when it aligns with your goals (Rajas)

C)????? You rarely think about it or feel it's too much effort (Tamas)

10. How do you manage your emotions?

A)????? By reflecting and maintaining inner peace (Sattva)

B)????? By expressing them strongly and passionately (Rajas)

C)????? By suppressing them or feeling numb (Tamas)

Section 1: Motivation and Desire

1. What drives you most in life? a) Personal growth and self-improvement b) Achieving success and recognition c) Comfort, security, and stability
2. What motivates you to take action? a) A desire to learn and understand b) A desire to succeed and achieve c) A desire to avoid discomfort or difficulty

Section 2: Emotional State

1. How would you describe your current emotional state? a) Peaceful and calm b) Energetic and driven c) Dull and lethargic

1. How do you typically respond to challenges? a) With curiosity and a desire to learn b) With determination and a desire to overcome c) With resistance and a desire to avoid

Section 3: Interactions and Relationships

1. How do you interact with others? a) With empathy and understanding b) With enthusiasm and competitiveness c) With indifference or criticism

1. What do you value most in relationships? a) Depth and meaningful connections b) Shared goals and achievements c) Comfort and familiarity

Section 4: Decision-Making and Priorities

1. What guides your decision-making process? a) A desire for knowledge and wisdom b) A desire for success and achievement c) A desire for comfort and security

1. What do you prioritize in life? a) Personal growth and development b) Career advancement and recognition c) Leisure and relaxation

Scoring:

For each question, assign:

• 3 points for every "a" answer (Sattva)
• 2 points for every "b" answer (Rajas)
• 1 point for every "c" answer (Tamas)

Add up the points to determine the dominant mode:

• 18-24 points: Sattva (Mode of Goodness)
• 12-17 points: Rajas (Mode of Passion)
• 6-11 points: Tamas (Mode of Ignorance)

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Ethical Considerations:

• Informed Consent: Ensure participants understand the purpose of the assessment and have the right to withdraw.
• Confidentiality: Protect participant data and maintain anonymity.

By combining color preference assessments with a standardized mood scale like the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), we can explore potential relationships between color choices and emotional experiences.

Positive Affect Items:

1. Interested
2. Excited
3. Strong
4. Alert
5. Inspired
6. Determined
7. Enthusiastic
8. Proud
9. Active
10. Delighted

Negative Affect Items:

1. Distressed
2. Upset
3. Hostile
4. Guilty
5. Scared
6. Nervous
7. Jittery
8. Afraid
9. ashamed
10. Tired

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The PANAS method is a psychological assessment tool that measures two broad dimensions of emotions: Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). Here are some questions for each dimension:

Positive Affect (PA)

1. How often do you feel enthusiastic or excited?
2. Do you often feel proud of your accomplishments?
3. How frequently do you experience feelings of joy or happiness?
4. Do you often feel grateful or appreciative?
5. How often do you feel confident or self-assured?

Negative Affect (NA)

1. How often do you feel anxious or worried?
2. Do you often feel sad or depressed?
3. How frequently do you experience feelings of anger or frustration?
4. Do you often feel fearful or scared?
5. How often do you feel guilty or ashamed?

Additional questions to assess emotional balance

1. How easily do you bounce back from setbacks or difficulties?
2. Do you often find yourself ruminating on negative thoughts or experiences?
3. How well do you manage stress or pressure?
4. Do you prioritize self-care and emotional well-being?
5. How often do you engage in activities that bring you joy or fulfillment?

These questions can help assess an individual's emotional state, resilience, and overall well-being. The PANAS method is commonly used in research and clinical settings to measure emotional experiences and track changes over time.

A comparision:

The PANAS binary framework, derived from university research in Psychology departments, assesses positive and negative affective states, whereas the Tri-guna framework, rooted in the Bhagavad Gita, explores the three fundamental qualities (gunas) of nature: Sattva (purity), Rajas (activity), and Tamas (inertia).

While PANAS provides a psychological perspective on emotional states, the Tri-guna framework offers a more profound, spiritual analysis of one's inclinations and tendencies. Tri-guna framework as a "complete heart surgery" for the soul, highlighting its potential for deep personal insight and transformation.

Conclusion:

PANAS binary framework, which comes from University research is not as powerful as the Tri-guna framework given by Bhagavan Krishna in the Bhagavad gita. Tri-guna framework gives a complete heart surgery of a soul's inclination towards life in the material world. More research is needed to introduce this in all walks of life.

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