The Role of Gunas (natures attributes) in Creation and how they affect our lives.

The Godhead is the first manifestation from the unmanifest field. The field of God has attributes or qualities known as gunas.The gunas being present in nature, influence changes and transformation in mind and body as well as in consciousness. The gunas 

exist permanently in the field of God.

Further elaboration

The gunas are born from Prakriti (nature). They are in the Self as potential. Before creation, they remain inactive and in a state of perfect balance in the Primordial Nature. When their balance is disturbed, creation sets in motion, and the diversity of objects and beings come into existence, each possessing the triple gunas in different proportions.

In the higher consciousness, sattva is dominant, in a lower state of being tamas dominates, and in the middle state the predominance is rajas. In humans, all the three gunas are present in different degrees of predominance according to their spiritual purity and progress.

According to the Bhagavad-Gita, God is the real Enjoyer. He brings forth the entire creation for His joy (ananda). It is Purusha only that, seated in Prakriti, enjoys the qualities produced by Prakriti. The gunas are responsible for the diversity of nature. Because of the gunas (qualities or attributes of nature) the division of reality and unreality arises. When the gunas are manifested in creation, the individual souls come under their influence and begin their onward journey into the world of matter.

The Bhagavad-Gita suggests that we should try to transcend them rather than cultivate them. By knowing the nature of the three gunas and how they tend to keep us in bondage and illusion, we should become wiser and strive to transcend them. Sattva is purity and beneficial. However, for those who strive for liberation, even cultivation of "sattva" should not be an end in itself for sattva also binds us to the duality of pleasure and pain. Sattvic people want to enjoy pleasure and avoid pain. They are pious and knowledgeable but prefer leading a life of luxury and comfort. They engage in desire-ridden actions and become bound. Even though it is pure, sattva is but an instrument of Prakriti, which is meant to serve its ends by keeping us bound to the worldly life. Hence, one may cultivate purity (sattva) to suppress the other two, but in the end must rise above all the three and become stabilized in equanimity, sameness, and oneness of the Self. One should go beyond the three gunas to attain immortality and freedom from birth, death, old age and sorrow.

How do we rise above the gunas?

When a person, with his eye of wisdom, sees that all the drama of life is only a performance of the three gunas, and only the three gunas do anything anywhere, and knows, at the same time, that there is something above the three gunas, such a person attains to unity.

He attains union with Me in My Eternal State, provided that there is the perpetual vision maintained by that person, that there is no actor in this world, no performer of deeds other than the three gunas of Prakriti, and one’s own real Self is transcendent, above the three gunas. Such a person is liberated even while in this life.

In a practical yogic manner, we must realize that we are spiritual beings that are temporarily in the body. We do this by identifying ourselves with the formless, Spirit that we are, rather than the functions of the mind feelings and body. Then through deep meditation we dissolve the ego (the separate self) and gradually we experiencing Oneness, Union with Spirit, in which the entire universe dissolves.

Yogananda on Self Realization, "Self-realization is the knowing – in body, mind, and soul – that we are one with the omnipresence of God; that we do not have to pray that it come to us, that we are not merely near it at all times, but that God's omnipresence is our omnipresence; that we are just as much a part of Him now as we ever will be. All we have to do is improve our knowing."

What are the signs for one, that the gunas have been transcended?

When some effects follow as a result of the operation of sattva, rajas or tamas, the person who has transcended the qualities of Prakriti neither is elated nor is disgusted, nor is there any resentment at their operation.” When sattva operates, he does not exult. When rajas and tamas operate, he is not in any way affected. Whether the gunas are actively operating or whether they withdraw themselves into a state of inactivity, it makes no difference to this person because he sees them as they are, as objects of the witness consciousness—and he does not identify his consciousness with the three gunas.

He remains silent, taking no initiative in anything, appearing to be a person who has no intention of doing anything at all. He keeps quiet, knowing all things. He seems to be doing nothing, yet is internally doing many things. He is then not affected by the operation of the gunas even when they blow like a whirlwind on his person.

Fickleness of the mind is caused by the coming and going of the three gunas, which sometimes makes the mind feel satisfied, sometimes makes it restless, sometimes makes it feel fatigued or inactive. These operations of the psyche will be witnessed by his consciousness, and he will not identify himself with the properties of the psyche, which are usually affected by the gunas.

Pleasure or pain, let it be. It matters little. Whether he sees a nugget of gold or a big boulder of granite, it makes no difference to him. A lump of earth and gold have the same value to the eye of this great soul who has transcended the operation of the three gunas.

Praise and condemnation mean the same thing. It makes no difference whether he is glorified or condemned. Let a friend come or let an enemy come; there is no difference. He will still do nothing. He will be seated calm and quiet in himself, as if the world does not exist at all for him. Such a person is one who has transcended the operation of the three gunas.

“Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, I shall give you a final recipe how you can get over the three gunas. Undividedly love Me; then you will find that the gunas have no effect upon you. You need not have to struggle to observe the operation of the gunas with your witness consciousness, and put forth great effort in your mind. Effortlessly they will vanish; they will leave you of their own accord, provided you genuinely love Me.”

Such a person, is the greatest devotee of God who wants only God and has no other thought in his mind, automatically he will rise above the three gunas.