Title: The Three Levels of Intellect and Happiness

18th Chapter: verse 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39

Lord Krishna divides human traits in three areas – sattvic, rajasik and tamasik.

Jnanam (knowledge), karta (doer), karma (action), buddhi (intellect) and sukham (happiness) – all can be divided into these three traits.

We can infer which trait is predominant in a person by observing his external temperament. A sattvik person is calm and serene even in difficult situations. A rajasik person is swayed by his circumstances. A tamasik person is dull and non-responsive., not understanding what is happening around him.

The 26th, 27th and 28th verses discuss the three levels of refinement of karta (doer) - sattvik, rajasik and tamasik.

26th verse: “Who is a sattvik karta? He is totally devoid of any attachment. He does a lot of good things but does not identify himself as the doer.”

If we engage in a lot of work without sense of doer ship, we are not fatigued. The body may take a toll, but the mind stays fresh.

27th verse: “Who is rajasik karta? His mind moves from one polar opposite to another, from extreme joy to depression. When he gets expected results, he is overjoyed (harsha). When he does not get expected results, he is depressed (shoka). Obsessed by what he is doing, he is mentally fatigued.”

28th verse: “Who is tamasik karta? He is totally disturbed, crude, without politeness, dishonest, malicious, indolent, never in a happy mood, arrogant and perpetually procrastinating.”

The tamasik karta is always unhappy seeing the whole world as his enemy and seeing the whole world as doing injustice to him.

The 30th, 31st and 32nd verses discuss the three levels of refinement of buddhi (intellect) - sattvik, rajasik and tamasik.

30th verse: “What is an example of sattvik, most refined intellect? That intellect by which one knows what ought to be done, how it ought to be done, what ought not to be done, how to begin and retire from work, and how to combine action and contemplation, how to avoid actions that create bondage, is sattvik.”

Work can bring desires and ambitions that are not helpful. One should do his duty properly but have the ability to say “NO” to his own mind.

According to Patanjali Yoga Sutras, a spiritual seeker should practice friendliness (Maitri) towards fellow spiritual seekers, practice compassion (Karuna) towards those who are less evolved, practice happiness (Mudita) towards those who are more evolved and practice a filtering attitude (Upeksha) towards those who may shake his faith.

31st verse: “What is an example of rajasik intellect? That intellect by which one mixes up dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness),  by which one does not have the discerning wisdom to choose what is to be done and what is to be avoided, is rajasik.”

32nd verse: “What is an example of tamasik intellect? That intellect which enveloped in ignorance and delusion covers the truth and sees everything in an inverted way, which considers dharma as adharma and adharma as dharma, which deliberately thinks that doing something wrong is the best thing for the world, is tamasik.”

In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana says: “I know what the right thing is to do, but I cannot do that. I know what the wrong thing is to do, but I cannot resist from doing it.”
People with tamasik intellect have an obsession to do something which eventually brings their own downfall.

How do we know that we are following the path of dharma? We feel inner tranquility and contentment. We feel – “I have done what I ought to have done and I have attained what I ought to have attained.”

The 37th, 38th and 39th verses discuss the three levels of refinement of sukham (happiness) - sattvik, rajasik and tamasik.

37th verse: “What is the nature of sattvik happiness? Certain activities appear in the beginning to be like poison (difficult and painful), but eventually is like nectar (brings greatness, joy and contentment) – such happiness is sattvik.

38th verse: “What is the nature of rajasik happiness? Certain activities which are like nectar in the beginning (which appear to be very pleasant because they are the result of senses and mind coming in contact with objects of enjoyment), but which are like poison in the end (which inevitably lead to unpleasant outcomes) – such happiness is rajasik.

39th verse: “What is the nature of tamasik happiness? The happiness which is delusive and unpleasant both in the beginning and in the end, which is the result of laziness, delusion, ignorance, which is the result of understanding dharma as adharma, is tamasik.”

To develop bhakti, one should have a strong desire to get out of the cycle of happiness and unhappiness. Second, one should pray to God or engage in karma yoga. Third, one should read about the life and teachings of great spiritual personalities.

While the condition of the mind affects our actions, our actions also affect the mind. Good. Noble actions done without a selfish motive generate spiritual energy and create more sattvik qualities in the mind.

We always function at the emotional level, not intellectual level. Through spiritual practices, what we know intellectually, we should strive to become our emotional state.