Page 43 - THE FOURTH DIMENSION
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tribhir guṇa-mayair bhāvair / ebhiḥ sarvam idaṁ jagat
mohitaṁ nābhijānāti /mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam
Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me, who am
above the modes and inexhaustible. (Bg. 7.13)
Lord Krishna is not conditioned by the modes of material nature. Persons aspiring for spiritual knowledge must
rise above the entanglement of these modes in order to understand the Lord. This is only possible by complete
engagement in devotional service of the Lord under the guidance of bona fide siksa (instructor) and diksa
(initiator) gurus. Academic studies, philosophical speculation, performance of self-interested sacrificial rituals,
severe austerities or other material endeavors will not help a person understand Krishna. They are obstacles to
understanding the Lord.
If one is still under the influence of the modes of nature, he becomes entangled in the struggle for existence by
which he forgets Krishna and becomes prone to develop anger, lust, greed, illusion, envy and madness. Such a
person remains a victim of ignorance without any awareness that the purpose of life in this world is to be
rehabilitated by spiritual practice of devotion (bhakti-yoga) so that he can return to the eternal and blissful
spiritual world to associate with Krishna and His liberated devotees.
The living entities who are acting under the spell of the three modes of nature are called saguna, contaminated
by material modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. The mode of goodness influences a person to acquire
knowledge and wisdom, maintain a righteous and disciplined lifestyle and experience a large measure of
happiness. However, there is the tendency to feel that one is highly educated and superior to others. Thus one
is conditioned by false pride due to advanced knowledge, prosperous lifestyle and being respected by friends
and colleagues. Such persons become attached to working in the mode of goodness rather than make an effort
to rise above it to transcendental life. They repeatedly stay in the cycle of birth and death. Due to illusion they
remain attached to acting in the mode of goodness for material happiness and wrongly think they have achieved
the perfection of human life.
The mode of passion is characterized by unlimited desires, longings and the preoccupation of the mind with
sensuality. One is obliged to work very hard. He becomes attached to profit, distinction and adoration as
comcomittant factors of sex indulgence. There is no possibility for liberation while harboring such a mentality.
The mode of ignorance puts all persons in a delusional state of mind characterized by over-sleeping, laziness
and irresponsible or crazy behavior. They are not interested in spiritual life and remain addicted to intoxicants
and a non-regulated lifestyle. They seem always dejected and plagued by different troubles.
The living entities are described as gunasrita (under the grip of the modes) or saguna (contaminated by the
modes). The Supreme Personality of Godhead is gunasraya (all His qualities are spiritual without any tinge of
material contamination) or nirguna (free of the influence of the modes).
The living entities’ souls are covered by the material body. This distorts their ability to see properly. They remain
confused about the real cause of actions. They forced to act like puppets under the influence of the modes of
nature and they are oblivious about their past lives.
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