August Gītā: 14.5

sattvaṁ rajas tama iti
guṇāḥ prakṛiti-sambhavāḥ
nibadhnanti mahā-bāho
dehe dehinam avyayam

‘Sattva, Rajas and tamas gunas/qualities are made from prakriti/nature and bind the soul into the body.’
Bhagavad Gītā 14.5

Everything is a mix of the three qualities Light, Action and Stillness. They affect everything, every action and thought. Sattva binds us to happiness, rajas to passion and tamas to inaction. When Hanuman makes the giant leap from India to Lanka he encounters three divine obstacles which embody the three gunas. He escapes the first by touching divine opulence and comfort just briefly with his toe. He escapes the power of passionate ego by recognising that sometimes only humility will keep you on your divine purpose. And finally when his shadow is caught and there seems no escape, ever resourceful Hanuman finds another exit. When it seems all the doors close on you there is always one to be found even in the darkest of places.

– Hamish Hendry