SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 27
brahmano hi pratisthaham
amrtasyavyayasya ca
sasvatasya ca dharmasya
sukhasyaikantikasya ca

brahmanah--of the impersonal brahmajyoti; hi--certainly; pratistha--the rest; aham--I am; amrtasya--of the immortal; avyayasya--of the imperishable; ca--also; sasvatasya--of the eternal; ca--and; dharmasya--of the constitutional position; sukhasya--of happiness; aikantikasya--ultimate; ca--also.

TRANSLATION

And I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is immortal, imperishable and eternal and is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; Brahman is the beginning of transcendental realization. Paramatma, the Supersoul, is the middle, the second stage in transcendental realization, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate realization of the Absolute Truth. Therefore, both Paramatma and the impersonal Brahman are within the Supreme Person. He then goes on to point out; This attainment of the Brahman conception of life is the first stage in self-realization. At this stage the Brahman-realized person is transcendental to the material position, but he is not actually perfect in Brahman realization. If he wants, he can continue to stay in the Brahman position and then gradually rise up to Paramatma realization and then to the realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

When I chant my japa I find it rather easy to realize the Lord around me in nature. Seeing Krishna within takes a little more concentration but, when successful, a since of "being loved" comes almost at once. Of course, this is all dependent on how well I can leave my own petty concerns behind and truly listen to the holy names as I chant them.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 26
mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

mam--unto Me; ca--also; yah--a person who; avyabhicarena--without fail; bhakti-yogena--by devotional service; sevate--renders service; sah--he; gunan--the modes of material nature; samatitya--transcending; etan--all these; brahma-bhuyaya--elevated to the Brahman platform; kalpate--becomes.

TRANSLATION

One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada opens his purport thus; This verse is a reply to Arjuna's third question: What is the means of attaining to the transcendental position? As explained before, the material world is acting under the spell of the modes of material nature. One should not be disturbed by the activities of the modes of nature; instead of putting his consciousness into such activities, he may transfer his consciousness to Krsna activities. Krsna activities are known as bhakti-yoga--always acting for Krsna. This includes not only Krsna, but His different plenary expansions such as Rama and Narayana.

When I notice that the modes of nature are acting I find a way to think or act for Krishna. This may be changing my attitude toward the person in front of me, planning my next blog entry, chanting His names, or any number of other things. Recently I had to undergo an uncomfortable medical procedure and the best I could do was to keep repeating to myself, "I am not this body". Even that little bit of effort helped.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 22-25
sri-bhagavan uvaca
prakasam ca pravrttim ca
moham eva ca pandava
na dvesti sampravrttani
na nivrttani kanksati

udasina-vad asino
gunair yo na vicalyate
guna vartanta ity evam
yo 'vatisthati nengate

sama-duhkha-sukhah sva-sthah
sama-lostasma-kancanah
tulya-priyapriyo dhiras
tulya-nindatma-samstutih

manapamanayos tulyas
tulyo mitrari-paksayoh
sarvarambha-parityagi
gunatitah sa ucyate

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; prakasam--illumination; ca--and; pravrttim--attachment; ca--and; moham--illusion; eva ca--also; pandava--O son of Pandu; na dvesti--does not hate; sampravrttani--although developed; na nivrttani--nor stopping development; kanksati--desires; udasina-vat--as if neutral; asinah--situated; gunaih--by the qualities; yah--one who; na--never; vicalyate--is agitated; gunah--the qualities; vartante--are acting; iti evam--knowing thus; yah--one who; avatisthati--remains; na--never; ingate--flickers; sama--equal; duhkha--in distress; sukhah--and happiness; sva-sthah--being situated in himself; sama--equally; losta--a lump of earth; asma--stone; kancanah--gold; tulya--equally disposed; priya--to the dear; apriyah--and the undesirable; dhirah--steady; tulya--equal; ninda--in defamation; atma-samstutih--and praise of himself; mana--in honor; apamanayoh--and dishonor; tulyah--equal; tuiyah--equal; mitra--of friends; ari--and enemies; paksayoh--to the parties; sarva--of all; arambha--endeavors; paritya-gi--renouncer; guna-atitah--transcendental to the material modes of nature; sah--he; ucyate--is said to be.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O son of Pandu, he who does not hate illumination, attachment and delusion when they are present or long for them when they disappear; who is unwavering and undisturbed through all these reactions of the material qualities, remaining neutral and transcendental, knowing that the modes alone are active; who is situated in the self and regards alike happiness and distress; who looks upon a lump of earth, a stone and a piece of gold with an equal eye; who is equal toward the desirable and the undesirable; who is steady, situated equally well in praise and blame, honor and dishonor; who treats alike both friend and enemy; and who has renounced all material activities--such a person is said to have transcended the modes of nature.

JOURNAL:

In yesterday's sloka, Arjuna asks three questions. Here Krishna answers the first two. In his purport, Srila Prabhupada has this to say about the first question; The qualities of the material modes in the body will act, but as spirit soul the self is aloof from such activities. How does he become aloof? He does not desire to enjoy the body, nor does he desire to get out of it. Thus transcendentally situated, the devotee becomes automatically free. He need not try to become free from the influence of the modes of material nature.

On the second question he says; The materially situated person is affected by so-called honor and dishonor offered to the body, but the transcendentally situated person is not affected by such false honor and dishonor.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 21
arjuna uvaca
kair lingais trin gunan etan
atito bhavati prabho
kim acarah katham caitams
trin gunan ativartate

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; kaih--by which; lingaih--symptoms; trin--three; gunan--qualities; etan--all these; atitah--having transcended; bhavati--is; prabho--O my Lord; kim--what; acarah--behavior; katham--how; ca--also; etan--these; trin--three; gunan--qualities; ativartate--transcends.

TRANSLATION

Arjuna inquired: O my dear Lord, by which symptoms is one known who is transcendental to these three modes? What is his behavior? And how does he transcend the modes of nature?

JOURNAL:

The answers to these questions will make our search for a spiritual master (guru) much easier.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 20
gunan etan atitya trin
dehi deha-samudbhavan
janma-mrtyu jara-duhkhair
vimukto 'mrtam asnute

gunan--qualities; etan--all these; atitya--transcending; trin--three; dehi--the embodied; deha--the body; samudbhavan--produced of; janma--of birth; mrtyu--death; jara--and old age; duhkhaih--the distresses; vimuktah--being freed from; amrtam--nectar; asnute--he enjoys.

TRANSLATION

When the embodied being is able to transcend these three modes associated with the material body, he can become free from birth, death, old age and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 19
nanyam gunebhyah kartaram
yada drastanupasyati
gunebhyas ca param vetti
mad-bhavam so 'dhigacchati

na--no; anyam--other; gunebhyah--than the qualities; kartaram--performer; yada--when; drasta--a seer; anupasyati--sees properly; gunebhyah--to the modes of nature; ca--and; param--transcendental; vetti--knows; mat-bhavam--to My spiritual nature; sah--he; adhigacchati--is promoted.

TRANSLATION

When one properly sees that in all activities no other performer is at work than these modes of nature and he knows the Supreme Lord, who is transcendental to all these modes, he attains My spiritual nature.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 18
urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha
madhye tisthanti rajasah
jaghanya-guna-vrtti stha
adho gacchanti tamasah

urdhvam--upwards; gacchanti--go; sattva-sthah--those situated in the mode of goodness; madhye--in the middle; tisthanti--dwell; rajasah--those situated in the mode of passion; jaghanya--of abominable; guna--quality; vrtti-sthah--whose occupation; adhah--down; gacchanti--go; tamasah--persons in the mode of ignorance.

TRANSLATION

Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; and those in the abominable mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds.

JOURNAL:

I was sitting in my normal spot this morning chanting my japa and watching the grey squirrels running around collecting food when I saw a junkie stumble out onto the boat dock and fall into the river. He was caught between a boat and the peer and as I watched it became obvious that he didn't have the strength to get out. So, I packed up my pictures and made my way down to where he was.

When I arrived he was hanging on to the dock, his head above water and his eyes closed. "Let's get you out of the river", I said, and he opened his eyes and held out his hand, so I pulled him out of the water. All he could say, over and over, was, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

We are all God's children. Why was I there? To meditate. Did I care about the world? Absolutely not. And yet I opened my eyes at the right time and saw my brother in need.

We must see all as Krishna's or some of us will surly parish. Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; The word tamasah is very significant here. Tamasah indicates those who stay continuously in the mode of ignorance without rising to a higher mode. Their future is very dark. There is an opportunity for men in the modes of ignorance and passion to be elevated to the mode of goodness, and that system is called Krsna consciousness.

God have mercy on us, sinners that we are.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 17
sattvat sanjayate jnanam
rajaso lobha eva ca
pramada-mohau tamaso
bhavato 'jnanam eva ca

sattvat--from the mode of goodness; sanjayate--develops; jnanam--knowledge; rajasah--from the mode of passion; lobhah--greed; eva--certainly; ca--also; pramada--madness; mohau--and illusion; tamasah--from the mode of ignorance; bhavatah--develop; ajnanam--nonsense; eva--certainly; ca--also.

TRANSLATION

From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, greed develops; and from the mode of ignorance develop foolishness, madness and illusion.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada opens his purport with these words; Since the present civilization is not very congenial to the living entities, Krsna consciousness is recommended. Through Krsna consciousness, society will develop the mode of goodness. When the mode of goodness is developed, people will see things as they are.

Seeing "things as they are" involves practicing seeing Krishna everywhere. Everything is the Lord's energy and he is the spark, or the soul, of everything alive.

At the end of his purport he states; When one is engaged in the mode of passion, not only is he mentally unhappy, but his profession and occupation are also very troublesome. He has to devise so many plans and schemes to acquire enough money to maintain his status quo. This is all miserable. In the mode of ignorance, people become mad. Being distressed by their circumstances, they take shelter of intoxication, and thus they sink further into ignorance. Their future in life is very dark.

Every day out here on the road I see this state of affairs. The homeless sink into despair and turn to drugs and alcohol to blot out their miserable existence. They become so mad that they actually think that they have more freedom than the man in the mode of passion who works hard every day. Some of these at least go to church on Sunday and pray that God will have pity on them.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 16
karmanah sukrtasyahuh
sattvikam nirmalam phalam
rajasas tu phalam duhkham
ajnanam tamasah phalam

karmanah--of work; su-krtasya--pious; ahuh--is said; sattvikam--in the mode of goodness; nirmalam--purified; phalam--the result; rajasah--of the mode of passion; tu--but; phalam--the result; duhkham--misery; ajnanam--nonsense; tamasah--of the mode of ignorance; phalam--the result.

TRANSLATION

The result of pious action is pure and is said to be in the mode of goodness. But action done in the mode of passion results in misery, and action performed in the mode of ignorance results in foolishness.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 15
rajasi pralayam gatva
karma-sangisu jayate
tatha pralinas tamasi
mudha-yonisu jayate

rajasi--in passion; pralayam--dissolution; gatva--attaining; karma-sangisu--in the association of those engaged in fruitive activities; jayate--takes birth; tatha--similarly; pralinah--being dissolved; tamasi--in ignorance; mudha-yonisu--in animal species; jayate--takes birth.

TRANSLATION

When one dies in the mode of passion, he takes birth among those engaged in fruitive activities; and when one dies in the mode of ignorance, he takes birth in the animal kingdom.

PURPORT

Some people have the impression that when the soul reaches the platform of human life it never goes down again. This is incorrect. According to this verse, if one develops the mode of ignorance, after his death he is degraded to an animal form of life. From there one has to again elevate himself, by an evolutionary process, to come again to the human form of life. Therefore, those who are actually serious about human life should take to the mode of goodness and in good association transcend the modes and become situated in Krsna consciousness. This is the aim of human life. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that the human being will again attain to the human status.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 14
yada sattve pravrddhe tu
pralayam yati deha-bhrt
tadottama-vidam lokan
amalan pratipadyate

yada--when; sattve--the mode of goodness; pravrddhe--developed; tu--but; pralayam--dissolution; yati--goes; deha-bhrt--the embodied; tada--at that time; uttama-vidam--of the great sages; lokan--the planets; amalan--pure; pratioadyate--attains.

TRANSLATION

When one dies in the mode of goodness, he attains to the pure higher planets of the great sages.

JOURNAL:

My japa session this morning felt good and right. These days I walk down to the Willamette River here in Portland, Oregon and bring out a picture of Sri Sri Radha Krishna, a picture of Srila Prabhupada, and a picture of Jaganatha's smiling face. There is a lot of traffic on the bridges above me which forces me to chant loudly. Still, the setting is peaceful enough and I have been enjoying my sessions with the Holy Names immensely.

This Saturday will be Ratha Yatra here and I am looking forward to it. I have never had the opportunity to participate in one before. The devotees are now coming into the city on a weekly basis and their association is invaluable to me.

All glories to the devotees of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Sri Krishna!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 13
aprakaso 'pravrttis ca
pramado moha eva ca
tamasy etanijayante
vivrddhe kuru-nandana

aprakasah--darkness; apravrttih--inactivity; ca--and; pramadah--madness; mohah--illusion; eva--certainly; ca--also; tamasi--the mode of ignorance; etani--these; jayante--are manifested; vivrddhe--when developed; kuru-nandana--O son of Kuru.

TRANSLATION

When there is an increase in the mode of ignorance, O son of Kuru, darkness, inertia, madness and illusion are manifested.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 12
lobhah pravrttir arambhah
karmanam asamah sprha
rajasy etanijayante
vivrddhe bharatarsabha

lobhah--greed; pravrttih--activity; arambhah--endeavor; karmanam--in activities; asamah--uncontrollable; sprha--desire; rajasi--of the mode of passion; etani--all these; jayante--develop; vivrddhe--when there is an excess; bharata-rsabha--O chief of the descendants of Bharata.

TRANSLATION

O chief of the Bharatas, when there is an increase in the mode of passion the symptoms of great attachment, fruitive activity, intense endeavor, and uncontrollable desire and hankering develop.

JOURNAL:

As stated earlier, this is where addiction starts and, if these activities are not curtailed, they lead one into the mode of ignorance. However, if one in this mode develop a taste for knowledge of the Lord, he will become passionate about Krishna, and thus attain to the mode of goodness.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 11
sarva-dvaresu dehe 'smin
prakasa upajayate
jnanam yada tada vidyad
vivrddham sattvam ity uta

sarva-dvaresu--in all the gates; dehe asmin--in this body; prakasah--the quality of illumination; upajayate--develops; jnanam--knowledge; yada--when; tada--at that time; vidyat--know; vivrddham--increased; sattvam--the mode of goodness; iti uta--thus it is said.

TRANSLATION

The manifestations of the mode of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of the body are illuminated by knowledge.

JOURNAL:

I was listening to tape two of the lectures of Srila Prabhupada on his book, "The Nectar of Devotion" (Vrindavan, India, October 21, 1972). Here he says that if one dies in the mode of goodness he is, at the least, guaranteed birth in a human body in the next life.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 10
rajas tamas cabhibhuya
sattvam bhavati bharata
rajah sattvam tamas caiva
tamah sattvam rajas tatha

rajah--the mode of passion; tamah--the mode of ignorance; ca--also; abhibhuya--surpassing; sattvam--the mode of goodness; bhavati--becomes prominent; bharata--O son of Bharata; rajah--the mode of passion; sattvam--the mode of goodness; tamah--the mode of ignorance; ca--also; eva--like that; tamah--the mode of ignorance; sattvam--the mode of goodness; rajah--the mode of passion; tatha--thus.

TRANSLATION

Sometimes the mode of goodness becomes prominent, defeating the modes of passion and ignorance, O son of Bharata. Sometimes the mode of passion defeats goodness and ignorance, and at other times ignorance defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for supremacy.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; Although there are these three modes of material nature, if one is determined he can be blessed by the mode of goodness, and by transcending the mode of goodness he can be situated in pure goodness, which is called the vasudeva state, a state in which one can understand the science of God. By the manifestation of particular activities, it can be understood in what mode of nature one is situated.

The goal here is to attain the mode of goodness, for this is the "jumping off" point of true Krishna Conscience.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 9
sattvam sukhe sanjayati
rajah karmani bharata
jnanam avrtya tu tamah
pramade sanjayaty uta

sattvam--the mode of goodness; sukhe--in happiness; sanjayati--binds; rajah--the mode of passion; karmani--in fruitive activity; bharata--O son of Bharata; jnanam--knowledge; avrtya--covering; tu--but; tamah--the mode of ignorance; pramade--in madness; sanjayati--binds; uta--it is said.

TRANSLATION

O son of Bharata, the mode of goodness conditions one to happiness; passion conditions one to fruitive action; and ignorance, covering one's knowledge, binds one to madness.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 8
tamas tv ajnana-jam viddhi
mohanam sarva-dehinam
pramadalasya-nidrabhis
tan nibadhnati bharata

tamah--the mode of ignorance; tu--but; ajnana-jam--produced of ignorance; viddhi--know; mohanam--the delusion; sarva-dehinam--of all embodied beings; pramada--with madness; alasya--indolence; nidrabhih--and sleep; tat--that; nibadhnati--binds; bharata--O son of Bharata.

TRANSLATION

O son of Bharata, know that the mode of darkness, born of ignorance, is the delusion of all embodied living entities. The results of this mode are madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul.

PURPORT

The definition of the mode of ignorance is stated in the Vedic literature. Vastu-yathatmya-jnanavarakam viparyaya-jnana-janakam tamah: under the spell of ignorance, one cannot understand a thing as it is.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 7
rajo ragatmakam viddhi
trsna-sanga-samudbhavam
tan nibadhnati kaunteya
karma-sangena dehinam

rajah--the mode of passion; raga-atmakam--born of desire or lust; viddhi--know; trsna--with hankering; sanga--association; samudbhavam--produced of; tat--that; nibadhnati--binds; kaunteya--O son of Kunti; karma-sangena--by association with fruitive activity; dehinam--the embodied.

TRANSLATION

The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kunti, and because of this the embodied living entity is bound to material fruitive actions.

JOURNAL:

When this mode is predominate all sorts of addictive behaviour begins. If one continues with these behaviours than one will drop down into the mode of ignorance. Again, Srila Prabhupada's purport gives us a warning; If there is no liberation for those in the mode of goodness, what to speak of those who are entangled in the mode of passion?

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 6
tatra sattvam nirmalatvat
prakasakam anamayam
sukha-sangena badhnati
jnana-sangena canagha

tatra--there; sattvam--the mode of goodness; nirmalatvat--being purest in the material world; prakasakam--illuminating; anamayam--without any sinful reaction; sukha--with happiness; sangena--by association; badhnati--conditions; jnana--with knowledge; sangena--by association; ca--also; anagha--O sinless one.

TRANSLATION

O sinless one, the mode of goodness, being purer than the others, is illuminating, and it frees one from all sinful reactions. Those situated in that mode become conditioned by a sense of happiness and knowledge.

JOURNAL:

The modes of material nature must be transcended to attain a real sense of God. This first one, the mode of goodness, is where many people stop, feeling that this is what God wants from them; to be good.

Srila Prabhupada warns us about this when he writes in his purport: The difficulty here is that when a living entity is situated in the mode of goodness he becomes conditioned to feel that he is advanced in knowledge and is better than others. In this way he becomes conditioned. The best examples are the scientist and the philosopher. Each is very proud of his knowledge, and because they generally improve their living conditions, they feel a sort of material happiness. This sense of advanced happiness in conditioned life makes them bound by the mode of goodness of material nature. As such, they are attracted toward working in the mode of goodness, and, as long as they have an attraction for working in that way, they have to take some type of body in the modes of nature.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 14 Text 5
sattvam rajas tama iti
gunah prakrti-sambhavah
nibadhnanti maha-baho
dehe dehinam avyayam

sattvam--the mode of goodness; rajah--the mode of passion; tamah--the mode of ignorance; iti--thus; gunah--the qualities; prakrti--material nature; sambhavah--produced of; nibadhnanti--do condition; maha-baho--O mighty-armed one; dehe--in this body; dehinam--the living entity; avyayam--eternal.

TRANSLATION

Material nature consists of three modes--goodness, passion and ignorance. When the eternal living entity comes in contact with nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he becomes conditioned by these modes.

PURPORT

The living entity, because he is transcendental, has nothing to do with this material nature. Still, because he has become conditioned by the material world, he is acting under the spell of the three modes of material nature. Because living entities have different kinds of bodies, in terms of the different aspects of nature, they are induced to act according to that nature. This is the cause of the varieties of happiness and distress.