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Tamas (philosophy)

Overview

Tamas (Sanskrit: तमस् tamas, lit. 'darkness') is one of the three guṇas (tendencies, qualities, attributes), a philosophical and psychological concept developed by the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy. The other two qualities are rajas (passion and activity) and sattva (purity, goodness). Tamas is the quality of inertia, inactivity, dullness, or lethargy. Generally it is referred to as the lowest guṇa of the three.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).

Possible passages

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  1. The sentiments inspired by beauty are admiration, a gentle charm, desire, love, and a pleasurable impulse. THEY WHO FEEL THESE SENTIMENTS MOST KEENLY ARE CALLED LOVERS. Such are the sentiments for invisible beauties which should be felt, and indeed are experienced by all souls, but especially by the most loving. In the presence of beautiful bodies, all indeed see them; but not all are equally moved. Those who are…

    Plotinus, Plotinos

    States what Tamas is.

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  2. The ancient teachers define _avyaktam_ as the “equilibrium of the three forces,” one of which is called _Sattva_, the second _Rajas_ and the third _Tamas_. _Tamas_, the lowest force, is that of attraction, a little higher is _Rajas_, that of repulsion, and the highest is the control of these two, _Sattva_, so that when the two forces, attraction and repulsion, are held in perfect control, or balance, by the…

    Swami Vivekananda, Jnâna Yoga, Part II

    States what Tamas is.

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  3. These three qualities are represented as the essential being of nature. The Sanc’hya says, “We speak of them as we do of the trees in a wood.” Yet this is a bad simile, for the wood is but an abstract universal, in which the individuals are independent.

    Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Hegel's Lectures on the History of Philosophy

    Close in meaning to Tamas; the term itself is not named.

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Related ideas

Place in the tradition

Part of Samkhya.

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