3 MODES OF NATURE

1. INTRODUCTION - 4
    SATTVA, RAJAS, TAMAS GUNA

We all living entities in different forms of body numbering 8,400,000 forms beginning from the aquatics up to the best advanced form of human life, there is a regular evolution by the laws of nature. The real fact is that we living entities although part and parcel of God, on account of our own disobedience have come down to this material world under different circumstances. We have different types of material dresses to fulfill the tendency for sense gratification, and this by the laws of nature, by association with the 3 modes of material nature. We are transmigrating through different forms of life.

  Helplessly pulled by the strings of material modes the living entity dances accordingly

 
So this human form of life is given to us as an opportunity to understand our position because in the human form of life we have more developed consciousness than the lower forms of life like the aquatics, insects, plants, birds, beasts and the civilized and uncivilized human beings.

So the point is that a human being must know the aim of life is to go back to Home, back to Godhead. The real aim of life is to go back to Home, back to Godhead.

Ys in service of Srila Prabhupada

JANAKA DASA

(Dr Jagadeesh TG)

Coordinator

‘Facing Life's Challenges - The Bhagavad Gita way’

9341833122

jagadeesh.das@hkm-group.org

facing.challenges@hkm-group.org

‘Suhrdam sarva bhutanam ; I am the friend of all living entities’ – Lord Krishna (BG 5.29).

NATURE IS NOT INDEPENDENT

01.   INTRODUCTION – 03 –

‘MAYADAKSHENA PRAKRITI’

Are things around us in nature happening on their own? Or has it been programmed to work apparently on its own? If u think deeply and logically the answer is v v obvious

The sun rises at a predictable time, sets at a predictable time. So does the moon. The weather can be predicted, the seasons are predictable. The movement of earth around the sun is fixed roughly at a constant of about 365 days and it itself rotates around its own axis once in 24 hours. So how intelligent is is on our part to say that these things are happening on their own without control of an external superior intelligence?

Even a so called automatic machine requires an operator or atleast we can requires an intelligent person to have created it. The person is so intelligent that he has set it in such a way that the machine can apparently work independent of his further control. So look around you can extend this logic to things u r witnessing everyday  and u will agree that ‘Constancy means ‘controlled’’.

Nature can teach us a lot – Every insect, plant, animal, bird or for that matter a human is being controlled

From the Bhagavad-gita we can understand Krishna because He is explaining Himself. What is the difficulty to understand. There is somebody Superior in all aspects of material activities. The sun rises exactly on time, the seasons changing, fruits appearing, and flowers. There is no change in the law of nature. Don't you think that there is a Superior Being managing these things. Why not accept this proposal. It is no explanation that it is simply accident that all these things are going on so nicely. "Mayadhaksena prakrti suyatte sacara caram . . . This material world is working under my direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.'' [Bg. 9.10].- Srila Prabhupada - Letter to: Mr. Prem J. Batra  --  Vrindaban 2 April, 1976

Yet man is foolishly trying to be independent of the control of the Lord (which is not possible in the first place). This is the cause of his bewilderment and suffering in the material world. It is directly attributed to our desire to enjoy independent of the Lord and for being currently in a bodily concept of life.

By surrendering onto the Lord we re-enter our original consciousness, Krishna consciousness.

Ys in service of Srila Prabhupada

JANAKA DASA

(Dr Jagadeesh TG)

Coordinator

‘Facing Life's Challenges - The Bhagavad Gita way’

9341833122

jagadeesh.das@hkm-group.org

facing.challenges@hkm-group.org

‘Suhrdam sarva bhutanam ; I am the friend of all living entities’ – Lord Krishna (BG 5.29).

Please Chant 'Hare Krishna mahamantra' and Be Happy!!!

MATERIAL WORLD - DANGER AT EVERY SINGLE STEP

01.   INTRODUCTION – 02 –

‘PADAM PADAM YAT VIPADAM’

 Danger at every step – Characteristic feature of the Materialistic world

‘Bhayam asritah’ - indicates that the materialistic way of life is always fearful because at every step there is danger. Materialistic life is full of anxieties and fear (bhayam). Similarly, accepting the reading bhavam asritah, the word bhavam refers to unnecessary trouble and problems. For want of Krsna consciousness, one is put into bhavam, being perpetually embarrassed by birth, death, old age and disease. Thus one is surely full of anxieties.

-          SB 7.6.5

This material world is described as padam padam yad vipadam [SB 10.14.58], which means that at every step there is danger. A fool wrongly thinks that he is happy in this material world, but in fact he is not, for one who thinks that way is only illusioned. At every step, at every moment, there is danger. In modern civilization one thinks that if he has a nice home and a nice car his life is perfect. In the Western countries, especially in America, it is very nice to possess a good car, but as soon as one is on the road, there is danger because at any moment an accident may take place and one will be killed. The record actually shows that so many people die in such accidents. Therefore if we actually think that this material world is a very happy place, this is our ignorance. Real knowledge is that this material world is full of danger. We may struggle for existence as far as our intelligence allows and may try to take care of ourselves, but unless the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, ultimately saves us from danger, our attempts will be useless.

-          SB 8.2.32

This is a FACT IN OUR FACE, which none of us can deny. Whether we like it or not this is the nature of the material world. It has been made like that by the Lord.

So what is the solution? How do I get out of this precarious condition that my karma has placed me in? The following conversation between Prabhupada and Syamasundara gives it away

‘Prabhupada: Padam padam yat vipadam na tesam.

samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam

mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh

bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam

padam padam yad vipadam na tesam

[SB 10.14.58]

Syamasundara: And the purport?

Prabhupada: And the purport is, one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, for him, this ocean of nescience,  bhavasamudra, because just like a small pit foot created by the cow's hoof.

Devotee: Footprint.

Prabhupada: And this place wherein there is step by step danger, this is not God's place. That Krsna also says. As soon as he understands Krsna, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. He immediately becomes eligible to transfer to the spiritual world.

Syamasundara: So actually, we're removing people from danger, from evil, by making them Krsna conscious.

Prabhupada: Certainly.

Syamasundara: So this is a welfare activity.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. This is best welfare activity in the world. What others can do in comparison to this?

So please chant ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare’ and Be anxiety-free and Happy.

Ys in service of Srila Prabhupada

JANAKA DASA

(Dr Jagadeesh TG)

Coordinator

‘Facing Life's Challenges - The Bhagavad Gita way’

9341833122

jagadeesh.das@hkm-group.org

facing.challenges@hkm-group.org

‘Suhrdam sarva bhutanam ; I am the friend of all living entities’ – Lord Krishna (BG 5.29).

MATERIAL WORLD - AN ABODE OF MISERY AND TEMPORARINESS

01.   INTRODUCTION – 01 –

‘DUKHALAYAM ASASVATAM’

Photograph – A Pulitzer winner depicting a child in a famine hit area crawling towards her inevitable end and in the background a vulture waiting for her last breath.

DUKHALAYAM – Abode of miseries

ASASVATAM – Temporary (Non-permanent)

The description of the material world is summed up in the above two words by the Lord who Himself created it. And the practical proof is there for us to see all around us, all the time. It is an abode of miseries and everything, including so called happiness also, is temporary. Death-deterioration-degeneration-destruction-decay-degradation is the universal rule of the material world.

So much sufficies for this day - A start which is on a pessissimistic note but albeit realistic.

Ys in service of Srila Prabhupada

JANAKA DASA

(Dr Jagadeesh TG)

Coordinator

‘Facing Life's Challenges - The Bhagavad Gita way’

9341833122

jagadeesh.das@hkm-group.org

facing.challenges@hkm-group.org

‘Suhrdam sarva bhutanam ; I am the friend of all living entities’ – Lord Krishna (BG 5.29).