The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas

Krishna begins describing the characteristics of one who has transcended: 'Prakāśaṁ ca pravṛttiṁ ca moham eva ca'—illumination (prakāśam—sattva), activity (pravṛttim—rajas), and delusion (moham—tamas). 'Na dveṣṭi sampravṛttāni'—he does not hate (na dveṣṭi) them when they are present (sampravṛttāni). 'Na nivṛttāni kāṅkṣati'—nor does he long for (kāṅkṣati) them when they disappear (nivṛttāni). This is the first sign of transcendence: equanimity toward the gunas. You don't hate any mode when it's active, and you don't long for any mode when it's absent. You're completely neutral—observing the gunas without being attached or averse to any of them. This is true freedom: not being controlled by preferences for or against any mode.