28 AVRAO Prabhu - Unit 3 - Bhakti Sastri Open Book Assessment - 1st Question

UNIT-3 OPEN BOOK ASSESSMENT
BALARAMDESH
28 AVRAO PRABHU
Q 4: Question Two with reference to appropriate verses, purports and

prabhupada’s lectures from Bhagvad-Gita Chapters 14 and 17, explain in
your own words.
(A) The importance of developing the mode of goodness in the practice
of Krishna consciousness.
(B) How Krishna consciousness is independent of the mode of
goodness.
Ans: (A) The mode of goodness is not necessary to initiate bhakti but it is
necessary to sustain bhakti. A person can practice bhakti in terms of
starting bhakti from any mode but over a period of time one needs to not
just do bhakti occasionally, it has to be done regularly. And regularity and
discipline are characteristics of mode of goodness. Mode of goodness is
what will enable us to sustain the practice of bhakti. Because in goodness
we can subordinate our emotion to our reason. In passion and ignorance,
we can’t do that much, so in bhakti we may get taste occasionally. So even
a person who is alcoholic may find taste in dancing but that’s not what the
person will find always. And when the person is in ignorance, when
dancing in kirtan feels boring, then he will give it up. But a person in
goodness will understand by purification I will get higher taste even if there
doesn’t seem any taste right now. And in that way a person in goodness
can sustain the practice of bhakti using reason. So material emotions can
be subordinated to reason and one can sustain one’s actions. sarva-
dvaresu dehe ‘smin prakasa upajayate (BG 14.11) Krishna says in
Bhagavad Gita 14.11, the characteristic of mode of goodness is
illumination. Illumination means one has knowledge by which one can
understand what is desirable and what is undesirable. Not just in terms of
what our desires tell us but in terms of what are the consequences in the
long run.
So anybody can start bhakti in any mode but to sustain bhakti requires
discipline which in turn requires subordinating our feelings to our
intelligence which is a characteristic of mode of goodness. So that’s why
the mode of goodness is important in practice of bhakti. Now when we say
mode of goodness, we shouldn’t think necessarily changing our entire
nature, its not necessary a vaisya to become a brahmana to practice
bhakti. Even the vaisya activities can be done in a passionate way, can be
done in an ignorant way or can be done in a goodness way. So, basically
the way the mode of goodness will be expressed in different people will
vary. So a vaisya starts practicing bhakti then that goodness can take one
towards transcendence. Krishna tells in BG 18.46 is that we don’t have to
change our occupational duty from ignorance to goodness or from sudra to
brahmana to practice bhakti.
Krishna also says that raga-dvesa-vimuktais tu visayan indriyais caran

atma-vasyair vidheyatma prasadam adhigacchati ( BG 2.64). We put aside
our attachments and aversions and follow scripture, vidheyatma, so
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BALARAMDESH
28 AVRAO PRABHU
coming to mode of goodness essentially means doing our duties but in

accordance with scripture. So acting according to our nature but not letting
that nature completely dominate all our actions. We harmonize the actions
in that nature according to scripture and in accordance with devotion. And
that way we can be in mode of goodness while being faithful to our
material nature and also being faithful to the path that will awaken our
spiritual nature and help us to find eternal happiness and love for Krishna.
(B) A devotee keen on advancing in Krishna consciousness has to

transcend the three modes. Lord Krishna says that a person who dies in
the mode of goodness goes to the higher planets of the great sages, a
person who dies in the mode of passion is born among those engaged in
fruitive activities, and a person who dies in the mode of ignorance is born
in the animal kingdom. A devotee has no desire to go to these destinations
but wants to go back home, back to Godhead. A sadhaka, or practicing
devotee, desires to transcend the three modes by the constant practice of
devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master in the
guru-disciple system (parampara). After hearing all about the three modes,
in text 14.21 Arjuna asks three questions important for devotees who want
to transcend the modes:“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?”
Lord Krishna's answers to these three questions, in texts 22–25, form the
complete philosophy of how one can transcend the modes of material
nature and return to the spiritual world.
Srila Prabhupada expertly summarizes this philosophy in his commentary.

Transcendentally situated persons have no envy and do not hanker for
anything. They perform their duty in Krishna consciousness, indifferent to
honor and dishonor. They have nothing to do with material existence.
Social and political issues do not affect them. They do nothing for their own
sake and everything for Krishna. Lord Krishna answers Arjuna’s third
question (how one transcends the modes of nature) in text 14.26: “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.” To rise above the three modes of material nature, we have to
transfer our consciousness from the influence of the material modes to
Krishna consciousness by practicing bhakti-yoga. A devotee in Krishna
consciousness is not in association with the modes, is without false ego,
and serves with great determination and enthusiasm, unwavering in
success or failure. The influence of the modes vanishes when a devotee
completely surrenders to Lord Krishna.
In BG 14.27, Srila Prabhupada summarizes Krishna conscious activities:

One should always engage in the service of the Lord, should eat the
remnants of foodstuffs offered to the lotus feet of the Lord, see the places
where the Lord had His transcendental pastimes, read the different
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BALARAMDESH
28 AVRAO PRABHU
activities of the Lord, His reciprocation of love with His devotees, chant
always the transcendental vibration Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna
Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,
and observe the fasting days commemorating the appearances and
disappearances of the Lord and His devotees. By following such a process
one becomes completely detached from all material activities.
TOTAL WORDS : 1011
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What is the importance of developing the mode of goodness in the practice of Krishna consciousness?

How does one transcend the three modes of material nature?

UNIT-3 OPEN BOOK ASSESSMENT

Q 4: Question Two with reference to appropriate verses, purports and

Krishna also says that raga-dvesa-vimuktais tu visayan indriyais caran

coming to mode of goodness essentially means doing our duties but in

(B) A devotee keen on advancing in Krishna consciousness has to

Srila Prabhupada expertly summarizes this philosophy in his commentary.

In BG 14.27, Srila Prabhupada summarizes Krishna conscious activities:

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