The 10 Gunas

Written for #1000reviewersclub by @IndicaBooks

The 10 Gunas could be regarded as a self-help guide to see in another light the characteristics of human intelligence, strength and confidence, but that would serve as a poor interpretation of a book that attempts to form a basis for all the other Hindu texts, discourses and sources one may choose to consume in their journey. Too often do we see The Bhagwad Gita and Ramayana being recommended to new seekers who may have little to no knowledge of Indian literature and linguistics. Luck favour the unfortunate soul who is singled out to explain in western parlance the meaning of intricate words like vairagya and dhi. Practising Hindus may have a lived experience of many Sanskrit words often used in spiritual and philosophical circles, but are narrow in understanding, as seen with broken definitions and fervent hand motions. It would be more appropriate to view the book as a limited but deep dictionary of frequently used Sanskrit words whose meanings are diluted in modern conversations.

The author's writing is friendly and lucid. He does not throw out textbook definitions of the ten gunas, but divulges their meaning through stories from ancient scriptures and personal experience. This interpolation brings out the meaning gradually till it becomes ingrained in the mind, intertwined with the imagery from the stories. The reader may notice a tangential nature to the prose, to only have it all tied up towards the conclusion of the chapter. The text is simple and requires nothing but the rapt attention of the seeker.

One chapter a day is a healthy way to cover and internalise the contents of the book. Using a pencil or highlighter to underline important phrases, words, and translations is useful when re-scanning a chapter, which is a recurring occurrence. Despite appearing as a light read, the book requires ample attention and presence of mind to identify essential extracts to commit to memory or understanding being the academic pre-precursor it is.

Despite the claim made earlier, I won't take away the self-help nature of the book, but it is a by-product of the nature of the book's goals than a core focus. The application of the various gunas expounded in the book will help the reader look at events in a different light, but that is simply because of the profundity of understanding what the very specific words mean. This book is short, sharp, and a compulsory reading by any non-academic who desires to build a novice understanding, and eventually wade deeper into the waters of Indian literature, linguistics, and philosophy.