Gita 14.13
Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च | तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ||१३||
aprakāśo 'pravṛttiś ca pramādo moha eva ca | tamasy etāni jāyante vivṛddhe kuru-nandana ||13||
In essence: Darkness, inactivity, negligence, and delusion arise when tamas predominates.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "I recognize some of this - the inertia, the procrastination. But I'm not totally deluded. I can see my patterns."
Guru: "The fact that you see them means some sattva is present. Pure tamas cannot see itself. Your recognition indicates the fog is lifting enough for light to enter."
Sadhak: "But why is it so hard to act even when I see I should? I know I'm procrastinating, yet I continue."
Guru: "That's the tamas-moha combination. You see partially, but the seeing doesn't create momentum. It's like dreaming you should wake up but remaining asleep. The energy to act is suppressed by inertia."
Sadhak: "Is depression the same as tamas?"
Guru: "There's significant overlap. Clinical depression involves neurochemistry that psychology and medicine address. But experientially, depression and tamas share features: darkness, inactivity, withdrawal, inability to perceive clearly. Addressing tamas spiritually can support medical treatment of depression; they're not mutually exclusive approaches."
Sadhak: "What pulls someone out of tamas?"
Guru: "Light from outside when internal light is insufficient. A teacher, a friend, an inspiring text, a crisis that forces engagement. Sometimes rajas must be invited first - any action, any movement that breaks the stagnation. Even rajasic activity is better than tamasic immobility when you're deeply stuck."
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🌅 Daily Practice
If you wake in tamas - heavy, foggy, unmotivated - don't fight it directly with rajasic forcing. Instead, invite light gradually: open curtains, do gentle movement, splash cold water on your face. Small sattvic inputs can shift the balance. Notice: did you wake naturally or did an alarm drag you from density?
Watch for tamasic drift - the slide from intentional activity into mindless distraction. When you find yourself scrolling without purpose, snacking without hunger, or avoiding without deciding, recognize tamas in action. Gently redirect - even small purposeful action interrupts the fog.
Evenings are vulnerable to tamas, especially after demanding days. Notice if you're choosing rest consciously or collapsing into it unconsciously. The difference matters. Conscious rest restores; unconscious collapse feeds tamas. Choose your evening activities deliberately rather than defaulting into them.