Human Response in Organizations: A study of RSS

A doctoral research was conducted by Sadhana Modh, Ph.D. to understand human response in organizations. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), one of the largest voluntary organizations in the world, was selected for this study. Active volunteers of the Sangh were given statements reflecting various attributes of the three Gunas and were asked to give their agreement or disagreement on a five point scale.

The research concept was based on the normative framework of Gunas (Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic). This framework needed empirical testing. The Guna framework was used to ascertain the Guna composition of a typical RSS volunteer and also to find out what makes RSS so unique and successful with unprecedented growth.

25 variables were chosen after two trial field research and multivariate analysis. The factor analysis of these variables gave many insights into the Guna characteristics. Table 1 gives the significant factors extracted after the factor analysis of these 25 variables. Table 2 gives the mean value and standard deviation of factors obtained after grouping the variables in each factor. Remark column suggests the interpretation of each factor for the sample. These factors were, then, used to understand the Guna framework of RSS workers.

Empirical Testing of Guna Framework

As discussed earlier, Guna framework can be used to explain the human response in a particular setting. A classification of factors obtained from factor analysis was carried out based on known characteristics of Gunas. The factor analysis proved that the three Gunas are independent in functions and it is possible to bring out Guna composition of people in an organisation. The mean values of all these factors reflect the nature of RSS as an organisation.

On the basis of a priory knowledge factors can be grouped as:

Sattvic Guna: Factor 3: Sattvic Agent/Actor Personality and Factor 6: Sattvic Nature

Rajasic Guna: Factor 1: Rajasic Worldview, Factor 2: Rajasic Action and Results of Action, Factor 4: Rajasic Motivation and Factor 8: Rajasic Strength

Tamasic Guna: Factor 5: Tamasic Actor/Personality, Factor 7: Tamasic Nature and Factor 9: Tamasic Motive

This framework was them verified using Discriminant Function Analysis. The results of Discriminant Function Analysis proved the result to be in conformity with the theoretical framework. The analysis revealed that the theoretical classification given above is statistically significant. The analysis revealed that the human response factors can be discriminated according to Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic Gunas. Since the results were consistently proved, this construct can be used to find the Guna composition (attribute/quality) of a person or an organisation at a given point of time.

Table 1: Order in which variables contribute to factors in the sample

FACTORS	VARIABLES WITH SIGNIFICANT LOADING
Factor 1: Rajasic Worldview	Nationalist, Passionate about his worldview, Devotion for his deity, Faith in Religion
Factor 2: Rajasic Action and Results of Action	Keenness to succeed, Skills of time management, Delighted when Successful , Loves his work and enjoys his life
Factor 3: Sattvic Agent/Actor Personality	Clarity in decision making , Believes in self control and Restraint, Taking responsibility for his/her action, Openness to others’ views
Factor 4: Rajasic Motivation	Seeks Power and Authority, Expectation of Reward, Believes in “end Justifies means”
Factor 5: Tamasic Actor/Personality	Half Hearted approach to work, Absence of Initiative, Loves to sleep during free time, Gets exhausted doing his work
Factor 6: Sattvic Nature	Believes in Sanctity of Methods, Cultural worldview
Factor 7: Tamasic Nature	Blames others for failure, Impulsive in decision-making , Loves partying
Factor 8: Rajasic Strength	Takes Initiative
Factor 9: Tamasic Motive	Disinterested in his/her work

Table 2: Mean and Standard deviation of Factors

FACTORS	Mean	Remark: RSS worker is
Factor 1: Rajasic Worldview	3.80	To a large extent believes in concept of nationalities and accepts differences in the world due to religion
Factor 2: Rajasic Action and Results of Action	3.99	To a large extent focussed on result of action
Factor 3: Sattvic Agent/Actor Personality	3.01	To some extent non-egoistic, firm, enthusiastic, unaffected by success or failure
Factor 4: Rajasic Motivation	2.13	Does not have a coloured judgement of ethical and unethical
Factor 5: Tamasic Actor/Personality	2.46	Not a Tamasic person i.e. not iimpulsive and arrogant, has ability to see other point of view; does not indulge in sense enjoyment
Factor 6: Sattvic Nature	3.66	To a large extent Calm, has self-restraint, is austere, wise, and believes in forgiveness, uprightness
Factor 7: Tamasic Nature	2.79	To a less extent he blames others for failure, Not impulsive, No time for partying
Factor 8: Rajasic Strength	4.25	To a large extent constant pursuit of mission
Factor 9: Tamasic Motive	2.41	To a small extent. Does not justify ethical to be unethical and vice-versa

Conclusions

On the basis of the mean values of factors given in Table 2, it can be concluded that an average RSS worker has a Sattvic Personality (self-restraint, austere, and believes in forgiveness, uprightness) and has a Rajasic worldview (Nationalist and Religious zeal). He is constantly in pursuit of his mission and is focussed. He does not have a coloured judgment of morality and does not blame others for his failures. He is ethical in his approach.

In conclusion an RSS worker could be called a “Sattvo-Rajasic” type personality according to Guna theory.

Potential for Future Research

Similar analysis can be done in other organisations to find out the Guna composition of various sections of employees. The analysis would tell us whether the organisation is inspired, dynamic or indolent and what the mix of these attributes is.

Results of research on Guna Composition

A doctoral research was conducted by Sadhana Modh, Ph.D. to understand human response in organizations. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), one of the largest voluntary organizations in the world, was selected for this study. Active volunteers of the Sangh were given statements reflecting various attributes of the three Gunas and were asked to give their agreement or disagreement on a five point scale.

The research concept was based on the normative framework of Gunas (Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic). This framework needed empirical testing. The Guna framework was used to ascertain the Guna composition of a typical RSS volunteer and also to find out what makes RSS so unique and successful with unprecedented growth.

25 variables were chosen after two trial field research and multivariate analysis. The factor analysis of these variables gave many insights into the Guna characteristics. Table 1 gives the significant factors extracted after the factor analysis of these 25 variables. Table 2 gives the mean value and standard deviation of factors obtained after grouping the variables in each factor. Remark column suggests the interpretation of each factor for the sample. These factors were, then, used to understand the Guna framework of RSS workers.
Empirical Testing of Guna Framework

As discussed earlier, Guna framework can be used to explain the human response in a particular setting. A classification of factors obtained from factor analysis was carried out based on known characteristics of Gunas. The factor analysis proved that the three Gunas are independent in functions and it is possible to bring out Guna composition of people in an organisation. The mean values of all these factors reflect the nature of RSS as an organisation.

On the basis of a priory knowledge factors can be grouped as:

Sattvic Guna: Factor 3: Sattvic Agent/Actor Personality and Factor 6: Sattvic Nature

Rajasic Guna: Factor 1: Rajasic Worldview, Factor 2: Rajasic Action and Results of Action, Factor 4: Rajasic Motivation and Factor 8: Rajasic Strength

Tamasic Guna: Factor 5: Tamasic Actor/Personality, Factor 7: Tamasic Nature and Factor 9: Tamasic Motive

This framework was them verified using Discriminant Function Analysis. The results of Discriminant Function Analysis proved the result to be in conformity with the theoretical framework. The analysis revealed that the theoretical classification given above is statistically significant. The analysis revealed that the human response factors can be discriminated according to Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic Gunas. Since the results were consistently proved, this construct can be used to find the Guna composition (attribute/quality) of a person or an organisation at a given point of time.

Table 1: Order in which variables contribute to factors in the sample

FACTORS	VARIABLES WITH SIGNIFICANT LOADING
Factor 1: Rajasic Worldview	Nationalist, Passionate about his worldview, Devotion for his deity, Faith in Religion
Factor 2: Rajasic Action and Results of Action	Keenness to succeed, Skills of time management, Delighted when Successful , Loves his work and enjoys his life
Factor 3: Sattvic Agent/Actor Personality	Clarity in decision making , Believes in self control and Restraint, Taking responsibility for his/her action, Openness to others’ views
Factor 4: Rajasic Motivation	Seeks Power and Authority, Expectation of Reward, Believes in “end Justifies means”
Factor 5: Tamasic Actor/Personality	Half Hearted approach to work, Absence of Initiative, Loves to sleep during free time, Gets exhausted doing his work
Factor 6: Sattvic Nature	Believes in Sanctity of Methods, Cultural worldview
Factor 7: Tamasic Nature	Blames others for failure, Impulsive in decision-making , Loves partying
Factor 8: Rajasic Strength	Takes Initiative
Factor 9: Tamasic Motive	Disinterested in his/her work

Table 2: Mean and Standard deviation of Factors

FACTORS	Mean	Remark: RSS worker is
Factor 1: Rajasic Worldview	3.80	To a large extent believes in concept of nationalities and accepts differences in the world due to religion
Factor 2: Rajasic Action and Results of Action	3.99	To a large extent focussed on result of action
Factor 3: Sattvic Agent/Actor Personality	3.01	To some extent non-egoistic, firm, enthusiastic, unaffected by success or failure
Factor 4: Rajasic Motivation	2.13	Does not have a coloured judgement of ethical and unethical
Factor 5: Tamasic Actor/Personality	2.46	Not a Tamasic person i.e. not iimpulsive and arrogant, has ability to see other point of view; does not indulge in sense enjoyment
Factor 6: Sattvic Nature	3.66	To a large extent Calm, has self-restraint, is austere, wise, and believes in forgiveness, uprightness
Factor 7: Tamasic Nature	2.79	To a less extent he blames others for failure, Not impulsive, No time for partying
Factor 8: Rajasic Strength	4.25	To a large extent constant pursuit of mission
Factor 9: Tamasic Motive	2.41	To a small extent. Does not justify ethical to be unethical and vice-versa

Conclusions

On the basis of the mean values of factors given in Table 2, it can be concluded that an average RSS worker has a Sattvic Personality (self-restraint, austere, and believes in forgiveness, uprightness) and has a Rajasic worldview (Nationalist and Religious zeal). He is constantly in pursuit of his mission and is focussed. He does not have a coloured judgment of morality and does not blame others for his failures. He is ethical in his approach.

In conclusion an RSS worker could be called a “Sattvo-Rajasic” type personality according to Guna theory.
Potential for Future Research

Similar analysis can be done in other organisations to find out the Guna composition of various sections of employees. The analysis would tell us whether the organisation is inspired, dynamic or indolent and what the mix of these attributes is.

Guidance for career choice and growth

Every society, generally, consists of people who are engaged in four types of activities - knowledge accumulation, power accumulation, wealth creation and service. They can be described as intellectuals, power seekers, businessmen and service providers. They could also be called scholars, leaders, traders and workers.

Indian philosophy, too, enumerates four types of work that an individual performs based on his nature of work and mode of thinking. Traditionally they are classified as Brahmin (Knowledge Worker), Kshatriya (Power Seeker), Vaishya (Wealth Accumulator) and Shudra (Service Provider). Over a period of time it degenerated into a rigid caste system. If we leave out the caste system, which is highly deplorable, the format can be used to evolve a relationship between an individual’s Guna composition and his nature of work. Chapter 4:13 of Bhagavad Gita says:

“Chaaturvarnyam mayaa srishtam gunakarmaavibhagshah”

Lord says, “The four-fold actions were created by Me according to the differentiation of Guna (quality) and action.”

Based on this relationship I have developed an Action-Quality grid to present the concept in more detail for better understanding (Figure 1). The Action-Quality Grid relates three Gunas (Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic) to the four types of work. As the table suggests if nature of activity is service, a Tamasic individual will be a routine worker, a Rajasic (Passionate) person will be a resourceful worker and will do his work with passion. A Sattvic (Balanced) person will render selfless service within her/his organization and to the society.

Nature of Action

Figure 1: Satish Modh’s Action-Quality Grid

If nature of activity is wealth creation/business, the Tamasic person will struggle to maintain his status quo. The Rajasic person will be passionate and will become an entrepreneur. Those who are Sattvic and are in business will have a Gandhian view of business as a trust. They will run their business with a view to contribute to the society and support charitable activities.

When the nature of action is power acquisition, a person with Tamasic Guna will be a typical government employee - as an average populace understands it. For a Rajasic person, full of passion, army, bureaucracy and politics is the natural place to be in. Those of the Sattvic mind will use their work for social activism to bring about social transformation and change.

In the field of knowledge, the Tamasic person becomes an armchair critic, a journalist or editor - advising and criticizing everyone. The Rajasic person would become a consultant and will use his knowledge for other’s benefit but at a price. The Sattvic person becomes a Guru or a teacher.

Dynamic Nature of the Grid

The nature of Guna is dynamic so is the nature of this Action-Quality grid. Knowledge of this grid would help every enthusiastic person who wants a life of better illumination and greater equanimity. Gunas express the qualities of our thoughts and feelings and lead us to good, bad, or indifferent actions. By identifying the nature of work we are doing and relating it to the Gunas we would be able to identify the imperfections and sorrows of our life.

The action-quality grid helps us in identifying the nature of work we are doing and with it the dominant Guna influencing us at that moment in our life. It is interesting to note that the job title may not truly reflect the nature of work we are doing at a given point of time. A person may overtly be a teacher by the title of his job. But, he may be actually behaving like a government employee, or a disinterested worker, or a social activist, or even an entrepreneur (running tuition classes).

This variation in her/his conduct is the play of Gunas, which reflects her/his true nature – her/his tendencies and temperaments. The gap between a job title and the true nature of work creates agitations and dilemma in one’s mind. If one truly understands the dominant nature of one’s actions s/he can change the occupation to minimize agitations and confusion in his/her mind.

It is important that no one belonging to a particular work group in the action-quality grid look down with contempt upon others. We must understand that each one acts on the basis of his/her past tendencies and serves the society as best as s/he can. What is needed is that each one of us should try to minimize the gap between our true self and actual self and work with a spirit of dedication, for our own evolution and sense of fulfillment.

The productivity potential that is dormant in any profession can be invoked by bridging this gap. This will be useful for our self-development and also to gain the highest good for the society. It would help in building a just society, which would give freedom to all its citizens and encourage them to achieve their full potential – physical, mental and spiritual.

Dynamic Interaction of Gunas

Whatever the perception we have about our own personality, when we act, we are influenced by the environment in which we act; the state of our health, our mental state, our relationship with people around us and the goal we have set out to achieve. All these factors influence the way we actually act in a dynamic condition. Therefore, it is important to find out our “Actual Self” in the given conditions.

Figure 2 presents the dynamic interaction of Gunas in us. There is always an overlapping of these Gunas which result into different personality characteristics. Here, in figure 2 a is Sattvo-Rajasic, b is Sattvo-Tamasic, c is Rajaso-Tamasic and d is a intermixing of Sattvic-Rajasic-Tamasic Gunas – giving rise to various personality dimensions.

Seven Types of Dynamic Personalities

These seven types of personalities can be explained as:

1. Pure Sattvic

2. Sattvo-Rajasic

3. Sattvo-Tamasic

4. Pure Rajasic

5. Rajaso-Tamasic

6. Pure Tamasic, and

7. Intermingle of Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic

Figure 3 presents these seven personalities with their unique characteristics.

Descriptions of Rajasic, Sattvic and Tamasic Guna

Guna theory is a theory of psychological energies or forces that determine individual propensities and dispositions. Gunas can be understood as attitudes with which mind functions or as influences under which the thoughts function. Guna theory provides the explanation for the innumerable and distinctive nature of people in the world.

Knowledge arises from Sattva. Sattva attaches itself to happiness and to the thrills of the creative moments in life. A scientist, an artist, a poet will not even like to come down to the passionate world. Sattvic individuals are duty-oriented.

Rajas attaches to action and its fruits. Rajas give rise to greed. Tamas attaches one to lack of care and recklessness. Negligence, delusion and ignorance arise from Tamas. Rajasic and Tamasic individuals are skills and rights oriented.

These three Gunas, in different proportions, influence the mental and the intellectual caliber of every individual and these influences provide the distinct flavor in each personality. All three are always present in every one, but from person to person their proportion slightly differs; hence the distinct aroma in the character, conduct and behavior of each individual.

There is a beautiful verse in Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 3:38) describing the nature of Gunas.

“Dhumenaavriyate vahnirryathaadarsho malen cha

yatholbenaavrito garbhastathaa teneddamaavritam”

“As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as an embryo is covered by the womb, so is THIS covered by it.”

Explanation

Sattvic Guna is like fire covered by smoke. A small wind blows away the smoke revealing the fire hidden.

Rajasic Guna is like the dust on the mirror. One has to make vigorous efforts to remove this dust to see the image clearly.

The nature of Tamasic Gunas resembles that of the embryo in the womb. The womb covers the embryo. You don’t know what is hidden beneath it and it will take its own time and effort to mature.

Example From daily life

All three types of Gunas co-exist in every individual. We find their distinct individual qualities manifesting themselves during different parts of the day.

In the early hours of the day we are relatively calm and composed. Our capacity to understand is optimum. This is Sattva Guna. It represents the expected Guna of an individual in the morning. Sattvic means 'good'. We feel uplifted and inspired, generally.

We are relatively active during the course of the day. This period is Rajasic and we are ‘Passionate’ about our actions.

At the close of the day the body is tired and mind is disturbed due to events of the day. We just want to watch TV, take rest, sleep and relax. Tamas means darkness. Tamasic signifies inactivity.

Characteristics of a Sattvic Person

Under the Sattvic influence the mind is steady, free from agitations and inertia. Mind experiences peace and happiness, better understanding and intellectual comprehension. It describes the limits of ‘goodness’ though gives freedom from agitation.

Thus, whenever a given mind is in an inspiring and creative mood it is capable of vast knowing and deep understanding. A true scientist, working self-dedicatedly in his laboratory; a painter working at his canvas; martyrs facing cruel persecution, politician suffering long years in jail for standing up to their convictions are examples of individuals inspired by their creative mind.

Defining Traits:

• Works in harmony with the environment
• Creativeness is the key feature of Sattvic people.
• Hardworking and Conscientious, Efficient and Systematic, Respect for others, Calmness with quiet confidence, Dependable - Living in the present – ready for whatever comes.
• Your ‘will’ is controlling your ‘desires’. (Will is the steering and brake and the desire is the accelerator).

Life is like “driving the car with power steering, power brakes”.

Characteristics of a Rajasic Person

When Rajas influence dominates, there is desire for acquisition of things and attachment to things acquired already. The person normally remains in a stable equilibrium. But when it looks at an object of desire the equilibrium is disturbed and the mind is filled with ‘passion’ expressing in a million different urges, desires, emotions and feelings.

Such an individual can never keep quite but must necessarily act on endlessly earning and spending, racing and procuring, procreating and protecting, and thirsting for more and more. He is filled with joys of his success and involved in the sorrows of his failures.

Defining Traits

• One who acts – Energetic, restless and aggressive
  
• One who organizes the people to work together
  
• Strength is the key feature of Rajasic people
  
• Initiative and Creativity, Energetic Doer, Takes charge of events, Diversified interests, Love to co-ordinate and supervise people, A control freak.
  
• Risk burning out, Hypersensitive, Tendency for emotional outburst or withdrawn and depressed.
• Salient Characteristics: Hurry and Worry
• Often looked upon as an achiever “They are like steamrollers, rolling relentlessly over any obstacle in their way.”

Life is like “driving the car with no brakes”

Characteristics of a Tamasic Person

Tamas is born of ‘Ignorance’. Under this influence man’s intellectual capacity to discriminate between the right and wrong gets affected.

A Tamasic person focuses all his interest and attention upon himself/herself. All his/her actions and perceptions, emotions and thoughts are directed only to the welfare of himself/herself. But the world is not designed to cater to any particular individual. As a result these demands remain unfulfilled. The mind is never at rest. It is always discontented and disturbed. There is no consistency of purpose, brilliance of thought, tenderness of emotion or nobility of action.

Defining Traits:

• Loves to work…Work hard
• Doing labor and physical work are the key features of Tamasic people.
  
• Inertia – when s/he loses interest in the activity
  
• Theoretical; More concerned with what is going on in your head than what is happening around;
• Unusual perspective.
  
• Frustrated when faced with facts and details, Stressed by invasion of personal space.
  
• “I don’t care what happens to anybody, including myself”.

Life is like “driving the car with brakes on”.

Comparing Various Attributes of Gunas

Various attributes of Rajasic, Sattvic and Tamasic Guna can be compared. These comparisons are given in Table1, Table 2 and Table 3.

Table 1: Comparing the general personality, nature

and their worldview

Attributes	Rajasic	Sattvic	Tamasic
Agent/Actor Personality	Passionate. Many desires, and attachments, Never satisfied with what he gains;	Free from attachments to objects, non-egoistic, firm, enthusiastic.	Impulsive, arrogant, and inability to see any other point of view; over-indulgence in sense enjoyment.
Nature	Authoritative. Commercial temper. A colored judgment of the ethical and unethical, what is to be done and what is not to be done.	Noble. Calm. Full of love and affection. Discrimination between what ought to be done and what ought not to be done	Complaining of things around him. Wrong judgment of ethical and unethical actions. (Justifying ethical to be unethical and vice-versa).
Worldview	Recognizes the separateness and distinctions among people and divides them into different classes, castes, creeds, races, nationalities etc.	Recognizes the truth of existence. Perceives the oneness underlying the universe.	Fanatic in their beliefs, devotion, views and values in life without recognizing the cause and effect. Views the world as if it exists for him/her alone, with concept of self-importance.

Table 2: Comparing the way of action, their motive and reaction to results of action

Attributes	Rajasic	Sattvic	Tamasic
Action	Work done to fulfill desires, under tension and strain, anxiety and fear.. Ex. Actions of Political leaders, Social workers, industrialists, over anxious parents/managers, fanatic preachers.	Work undertaken for work’s own sake, inspired work, without any anxiety for results.	Work done without regard for loss of power or vitality, loss or injury to others; Ex. Smoking, drinking, gambling, corruption
Motive Force of Work	Achievement, gain, To succeed at any cost.	Work done for the joy of doing it.	Misconception of the goal; Work done without any attention to their own ability.
Result of Actions	Full of delight, grief worries and sorrows. Disputes, Conflicts; Temporary enjoyment of fruits of action	Unaffected by success or failure	Pleasure of senses. Affirmation of wrong values and false ideals. Bad habits

Table 3: Comparing the typical strength of each type of Guna

Attributes	Rajasic	Sattvic	Tamasic
Strength	Constancy of pursuit of duty, wealth and pleasure to enjoy the fruits of action	Constancy of steady control over one’s mind, sense organs and their activities, through single-minded attention, and faithful concentration	Skilled worker. A good critic. Sensuous.

An Introduction to RST Personality Quotient

Vedic Concept of Personality

Personality generally refers to the total behavior of the individual, but particularly to the relatively enduring and consistent aspect of our Self.

Personality refers to a number of factors like –

• The way you look; The way you dress;
• The way you talk; The way you listen;
• The way you act; Your habits;
• Your philosophy of life;
• Your resourcefulness;
• Your willingness to help others etc.

The Vedanta concept of personality development is based on the concept of perfection of each person and self-development for realization of our actual-self. According to Vedanta, well-integrated personality is the sum total of harmonious expression of following five dimensions. These are:

1. Physical self,

2. Energy self,

3. Intellectual self,

4. Mental self, and

5. Blissful self.

Physical self relates to our senses. Proper nourishment and growth of physical faculties is essential by way of balanced diet, recreation, music, and care and concern from near and dear ones. However, discretion and discrimination are the key words in this regard. Otherwise, there is every chance that senses would create havoc by way of infatuation and attachment to the sense objects.

Energy self is somewhat subtler than the first. It relates to metabolism and the gross manifestations of energy (Prana), for instance the act of breathing. The control of Prana is achieved by control of anger, anxiety, and restlessness.

Intellectual self is concerned with our discriminative power and knowledge (buddhi). In addition to sincere and formal studies, reading other books like biographies of great and noble persons and invigorating literature helps us develop this faculty.

Mental self is related to stress and psychology. Here selflessness, control, concentration, and calmness of mind plays essential role.

Blissful self is the function of state of being. It calls for remaining calm and unaffected in all the goings-on of world, in neck break competition and struggle, in calamities and disasters, in suffering and loss, in failure and success.
What is RST Personality Quotient?

The Rajasic–Sattvic-Tamasic Personality Quotient helps in achieving greater self-awareness, better self-management and striving for self-development based on the Vedanta concept of personality development.

The Rajasic–Sattvic-Tamasic Personality Quotient is developed by Satish Modh, Ph.D., so that the theory of GUNA as explained by Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita could be made practical and useful in our lives.

The Gita’s wisdom is not for dry intellectual gymnastics but rather to show a man or woman living in the world – how to live a balanced life. There are various interpretations of Gita. The material interpretation pertains to the physical and social duties and well-being of man. The psychological interpretation deals with sensory and life-energy principles that influence the formation of habits, inclinations, and desires. Finally, the spiritual interpretation is from the perspective of the divine nature and self-realization. The material and psychological aspect has been interwoven to stress the need for practical application of the Gita’s wisdom in all phases of life.

In Bhagavad Gita the background of a battle has been used for the purpose of illustrating the spiritual and psychological battle going on between the “pure discriminating intellect” and the “sense-conscious mind”.

Discriminative psychological powers (positive aspect of mind) are:

• Internal: Calmness, Life-force control and Self-control
• External: Adherence to good rules, and Power to resist malice

Sense conscious mind (The negative aspect of mind) manifests as:

• The power of desires – sense tendencies
• The attachment of desires – desire to give psychological battle

The Gita talks about innumerable forces of negative and positive tendencies (Gunas) within us, which influence our thoughts and actions. We constantly work under such influences and go through various physical, emotional and intellectual experiences. The quality and quantity of these experiences determines our personality, pattern of behaviors and conduct.

The term Guna indicates not the properties of a material but the ‘attitude’ with which the mind functions. These Gunas are:

• Sattva: The Positive attribute, influences toward good – truth, purity, spirituality
• Tamas: The Negative attribute, influences towards bad habits – untruth, inertia, ignorance
• Rajas: The Neutral attribute, the activating quality - passion, creates constant activity and motion. Either works with Sattva to suppress Tamas or on Tamas to suppress Sattva. Strives to influence the ever-changing character of the world

These are variously called attributes, or constituents or elements or qualities or principles, which underlie our every day actions.

Benefit of knowing one’s Guna composition

Knowledge of our Guna composition provides us the capacity of detecting within ourselves the most powerful tendency that rises up to rule our mental life at any given moment. A true and exhaustive knowledge of the composition of Gunas will make an individual aware of the actions/reactions of the mind and meet her/his subjective problems efficiently whenever they arise.

Self evaluation is easier said than done

The three Gunas function within each one of us, and therefore, we must know the art of subjectively diagnosing them. Diagnosis can be accomplished through the observation of self. But unbiased self evaluation process is difficult.

The RST Personality Quotient

The RST Personality Quotient is designed to help you understand your Guna composition. This knowledge would be useful in identifying your strengths and potential areas for growth. It will also help you to better understand and appreciate others around you. This will result into improved personal and organizational environment, better efficiency and greater effectiveness. The RST Personality Quotient provides:

• A framework for assessment of your Guna Composition,
• Help in greater self-awareness and
• Help in better self-management.

The RST Personality Quotient can be used in:

• Self-development
• Career development
• Improving inter-personal relationship
• Coming together and working together
• Realizing your leadership potential