Gita 14.12
Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा | रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ||१२||
lobhaḥ pravṛttir ārambhaḥ karmaṇām aśamaḥ spṛhā | rajasy etāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha ||12||
In essence: Greed, activity, undertaking new projects, restlessness, and longing arise when rajas predominates.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "You just described my entire life! I'm always busy, always wanting more, always starting new things. Is that all just rajas?"
Guru: "It appears so. But don't condemn yourself - rajas has brought you here to ask these questions. Without some rajas, you'd still be in tamasic slumber."
Sadhak: "But I'm successful! I've achieved things through this drive."
Guru: "Yes, rajas achieves. The question is: are you at peace? When you pause, do you feel content? Or do you feel anxious that you're not doing something?"
Sadhak: "Honestly, I can't pause without feeling guilty or anxious."
Guru: "That's the binding. Your achievements are real, but so is your bondage to achieving. A free person can act intensely and rest completely. Rajas can only act; it cannot truly rest. Even its 'relaxation' is a doing."
Sadhak: "How do I reduce rajas without becoming lazy?"
Guru: "Introduce sattva, not tamas. Sattvic action is effective but not compulsive. Meditate to create gaps in the doing. Practice contentment with what is, while still engaging appropriately. Ask before each action: is this necessary, or is this rajas needing to do something?"
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🌅 Daily Practice
Before checking your to-do list, check your state. Do you feel restless, driven, needing to accomplish? That's rajas dominant. Try sitting still for just two minutes before beginning activity. Notice how difficult this is. The difficulty itself reveals rajas's grip.
Watch for lobha (greed) and spṛhā (longing) arising. When you want something, pause and ask: is this genuine need or rajasic wanting? Do I need this, or does rajas need the pursuit? Begin distinguishing between intelligent desire and compulsive craving. The former leads to satisfaction; the latter never does.
Review today's activities. How many new things did you start versus complete? How much restlessness accompanied your doing? Were there moments of action without internal agitation? Notice without judgment - the clear seeing itself is sattva emerging to illuminate rajas.