Chapter 14 :: THE BHAGAVAD-GITA FOR CHILDREN

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red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">THREE MODES OF

NATURE Jai: Grandma, sometimes I feel lazy, and at other times I am

very active? Why is that?

2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in"> Grandma: We

all pass through different states in order to do certain things. These states

or modes (Gunas) are three types: the mode of goodness (Sattv), the mode of

passion (Rajas) and the mode of ignorance (Tamas). We come under the influence

of all three modes. Sometimes one mode becomes more powerful than the other

two.

0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; tab-stops: 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in

4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in">The mode of goodness keeps you peaceful and happy. In

this mode you will study scriptures, will not harm anybody and will work

honestly. If you are in the mode of passion, you are greedy for wealth and

power. You will work hard to enjoy material pleasures and will do anything to

satisfy your selfish desires. If you are in the mode of ignorance, you can’t

tell between right and wrong action, and are attached to sinful and forbidden

activities. You become lazy, and careless, lack

intelligence, and have no interest in spiritual knowledge. (Gita 14.05-09)

Jai: Do these three modes of nature control us, Grandma, or do we have

control over what we do?

2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in"> Grandma:

Actually, these three modes are the doers of all actions. (Gita 3.27) When we

are under the influence of the mode of goodness, we do good and rightful

actions; under the influence of the mode of passion, we do selfish actions; and

under the influence of the mode of ignorance, we do bad things or become lazy.

(Gita 14.11-13) We must rise above the

three Gunas to attain liberation (Niv|na). (Gita 14.20) Jai: What are we

like when we have risen above the three Gunas?

justify; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in

5.5in 6.0in"> Grandma: When we have risen above the three Gunas, we

do not get too much bothered by pain and pleasure, success and

failure, and we treat everybody like ourselves. Such a person depends on nobody

but God. Jai: It must be very hard to rise above these three modes.

How can I rise above the three

Gunas, Grandma? Grandma: To rise above the three Gunas is not very

easy, but it can be done with a little effort. If you are under the mode of

ignorance,

you must stop being lazy and stop putting off what you should be doing and try

to be a good boy. If you are under the mode of passion, you must give up

selfish desires. When you are in the mode of goodness, you remember God and do

your duty as a service to God. After reaching the mode of goodness, you can

rise above the three Gunas by devotion to God. Lord Krishna said: One who

serves Me with love and devotion rises above the three Gunas and becomes fit

for God-realization (Nirv

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">|na). (Gita 14.26) Here is a story about the

nature of three Gunas.

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> 17. Three Robbers on

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">the Path Once a man was going through a forest

when three robbers jumped on him and robbed him. One of the robbers then said,

“What is the use of keeping this man alive?” He was about to kill him with his

sword, when the second robber stopped him, saying: “What is the use of killing

him? Tie him to a tree and leave him here.” The robbers tied him to a tree and

went away. After a while the third robber

returned and said to the man: “I am sorry; are you hurt? I will untie you.”

After setting the man free, the thief said: “Come with me. I will take you to

the public highway.” After a long time they reached the road. At this the man

said: “Sir, you have been very good to me. Come with me to my house.” “Oh no!”

replied the robber, “I can’t go there. The police will know it.”

TEXT-ALIGN: justify; tab-stops: 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in

5.0in 5.5in 6.0in">The forest is this world. The three robbers are the three

Gunas: goodness, passion and laziness. It is they who rob us of Self-knowledge.

Laziness wants to destroy us. Passion ties us to the world. Goodness frees us

from the hold of passion and laziness. Under the protection of goodness, we are

rescued from anger, passion, greed and laziness. Goodness also loosens the bonds

of the world. But goodness is also a robber. He cannot give us the pure

knowledge of God. He can only show us the path leading to the house of God.

10.0pt"> Chapter 14 summary: Everything in nature can be generally classified

into three types called Gunas. Mother Nature puts us into these three modes or

gears to get her work done through us. Actually, all work is done by the three

Gunas of nature. We are not the doers, but we are responsible for our actions

because we are given a mind and free will to decide and choose between right

and wrong action. You can get out of the influence of these three Gunas by

effort and devotion to God. "Gurur Brahma Gurur VishnuGurur Devoh

Maheshwar;Gurur Shakshat ParambramhaTashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"May the

Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and remove

our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and

happiness with peace of mind.Sai bhakt,Deepa Hdebu7366