With the Sāṃkhya, brahminical thought developed a new approach at least to the way of conceiving Beingness. According to this philosophy, the sensible world ceases to be an illusion and becomes real and even acquires an active reality. As opposed to the pantheism of Upaniṣad and Vedānta, Sāṃkhya calls for a dualism opposing the soul to the matter Prakṛti or the dynamic nature, the constant evolving, is the principle cause of all motion and action the universe. This essentially active and productive substance which is eternal and constantly in a state of transformation consists of three guṇa.
- Sattva (सत्त्व), balance, purity, truth;
- Rajas, (रजस्), energy, passion, strength, desire;
- Tamas, (तमस्), darkness, inability, inertia.
These three guṇa are completely independent and are constantly interacting each other in the differentiated nature and their mutual action is leading the whole evolution of the matter. It”s important to cultivate sattva first and then transcend it.
