Recent conversations about the lack of collaboration in the philanthropic landscape got me thinking of the concept of Guna.
Long before Abraham Maslow figured the hierarchy of needs, the Indian Vedic worldview of Guna was and still is significant in leading a mentally healthy and fulfilled life. The three Guna are a classification of qualities or attributes that are present in both physiological/material and psychological/ mental phenomena
We often look at philanthropy through the basic Maslowian lens of self-actualisation: the point where giving is seen as the highest expression of a fulfilled life. Yet, in the Vedic way of life, there lies another lens that stretches our imagination. It is the concept of Sattva.
The three Guna are:
1. Tamas - In this state, an individual’s focus is primarily on meeting basic requirements across all aspects of life, from physiological needs such as food, shelter, and sleep to emotional and mental well-being. When in this state, a person typically operates with only a foundational grasp of essential tasks, and may experience knowledge gaps, heightened anxiety, or reduced motivation.
2. Rajas - A person in this stage is driven to continually improve their material and social circumstances, frequently seeking progress in areas such as wealth, belonging, and intimacy. Satisfaction tends to be elusive, as aspirations remain high and social status along with self-esteem become significant priorities. This ambition often encourages philanthropic actions and meaningful contributions to society.
3. Sattva - Self-transcendence is a state where the person goes beyond self-expression (beyond self-actualized) to support others with genuine humility, wisdom, and care, while remaining free from expectations or attachments to outcomes. Such an outlook fosters inner peace, mental clarity, emotional balance, and deep contentment, emphasizing service and selflessness rather than personal expression.
When we speak of collaboration in philanthropy, or the mental well-being of those who aim to serve through their contributions, the question remains: are we still in Rajas, giving and leading from ego? Or are we ready to evolve towards contribution not measured in visibility, legacy, or structures, but in the quiet impact of service that uplifts people, planet, and policies?
I have worked with philanthropists who focus on the process and intention behind their philanthropic efforts, rather than fixed results. Such an attitude ensures that efforts are rooted in core values, sense of purpose and intentions rather than external validation, thereby leaving the ultimate impact to evolve naturally, without force-fitting self-expression into community outcomes. The understanding of each of the Guna, also help GenNext philanthropists to understand the values that direct their family philanthropy, without letting personal ego or ‘saviour complex’ that young privileged individuals unwittingly develop, where they believe they are uniquely positioned to rescue less fortunate people.
While there is much that needs to be done and should be done in the philanthropic space, I am personally encouraged by the shift in mindset that I see in both the social purpose and philanthropic communities in some parts of Asia.
This journey from self-actualisation to self-transcendence invites philanthropy to evolve from driven giving to deeply conscious service. In recognising Tamas, Rajas, and Sattva within ourselves and our institutions, philanthropists and GenNext leaders can pause to ask not only “What impact do I want to have?” but also “From which Guna am I acting?” When giving is grounded in Sattva, with clarity, humility, and inner steadiness, a collaboration becomes more natural, ego softens, and the work of uplifting people, planet, and policies flows with far less strain. In that space, philanthropy is no longer a stage for identity or legacy, but a quiet, continuous practice of aligning intention, values, and action in service of the whole.
#philanthropy #mentalhealth #guna #asianphilosophy #worldview
