Session 4

Material Nature, Time

and Karma

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Important questions?

Why am I
suffering?
Where do
I go after
this life?
Three Types of activities
1. Pious Activities
2. Sinful Activities
3. Devotional Service (Bhakti)
This bondage is known as “PAVARGA”

•Pa – Parisrama = hard struggle

of existence
•Pha – Phena = Foam from
mouth coming due to heavy
hard work for sense
gratification
•Ba – Bandha = bondage
•Bha – Bhaya = Fear
•Ma – Mrtyu = Death
Through Krishna consciousness

a
one attains ‘ pavarga’, where
there is no hard struggle for
existence, no material bondage,
fear or death.
Characteristics of one in
Goodness, Passion and
Ignorance
 Mode of Goodness
Wiser than others
Leads life according to
scriptures
Not so much affected by
material miseries
Benefits in Mode of Goodness

Sense of advancement
in material knowledge
Sense of happiness
More or less free from
sinful reactions
 Examples in Mode of Goodness

The representative type is a brahmana.

Examples are the scientist, philosopher and poet.
Result of Mode of Goodness

People become bound by the pleasant

sort of life and to the goodness of material
nature. Although their life may seem
pleasant, they are still in the bodily
concept of life which is illusion.
A person in mode of goodness,
thinks that he is a Dr. so and so, an
American (some national), a middle-
aged man, a husband, a father, a
reasonable, well-educated
gentleman. These designations are
all material; they concern only the
body and mind.
He has not yet realized that he is
neither his body nor his mind; he is
a spirit soul, an eternal servant of
Krsna. Since he misidentifies with his
body, he must come under the
influence of the laws of nature
governing that body.
 Mode of Passion
Characterized by attraction between man and
woman.
Develops hankering for material enjoyment.
Wants honor, prestige, name, fame, good
status
 Mode of Passion contd…
Works very hard
Spending for good causes like building
hospitals, giving charity
They make a show of being religious, but it is
more or less a social affair, since in fact they
disregard the guidelines of scriptures
 Mode of Passion contd…

Today more or less the whole world

is in the mode of passion.
The Vedic society is considered to be
in the mode of goodness.
Everyone wants to enjoy sense
gratification and runs behind
things that helps him gratify his
senses.
 General Tendency

In order to fulfill all his desires, he

works very hard 24 hours a day.
 Mode of Ignorance
•One cannot understand what is what
•The person in MOI is very lazy and
unclean
•He has no interest in spiritual life
 Ignorance contd.
•He is very inactive and dull
•Sleeps at least 10 to 12
hours a day
•Always appears to be
dejected
 Ignorance contd.
•He is addicted to intoxicants
and sleeping
•Whatever he does is not good
for him and for anyone
•Always procrastinates things
 Quote from [B.G. 2.45]
Trai-gunya-visaya veda
Nistrai-gunyo bhavarjuna
Nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho
Niryoga-ksema atmavan

“The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the 3 modes of material nature. O
Arjuna, become transcendental to these 3 modes. Be free from all dualities
and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self.”
What makes us act in a particular way?

We generally think that we are in control

of our actions and that we are making our
own decisions
But Krsna, the Supreme Authority
declares that this is not the case.
 Quote [B.G. 3.27]
Prakrteh kriyamanani
Gunaih karmani sarvasah
Ahankara-vimudhatma
Kartaham iti manyate

“The spirit soul bewildered by the influences of false

ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in
actuality carried out by the 3 modes of material
nature.”
 Why we act in a particular way?

We are basically
acting as PUPPETS
of the forces of
nature
 3 modes bind us to the
material world
• There are 14 planetary systems, we are
in the 7th one known as ‘Bhu loka’;
• above this Bhuvaloka, svaloka, mahar
loka, jana loka, tapa loka, satya loka;
• Below atala, vitala, sutala, talatala,
mahatala, rasatala, patala.
Pious beings are elevated to
higher planets and impious
beings are cast down into
lower planets.
 Quote
Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha
Madhye tisthanti rajasah
Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha
Adho gacchanti tamasah
“Those in the MOG gradually go upward to the
higher planets; Those in the MOP live on the
earthly planets; and those in the abominable
MOI go down to the hellish worlds.” [B.G.
14.18]
 A class jail:- Devatas in mode of
Swimming pool, goodness have
long life and no
newspaper, no sweat but they have
freedom to die
B class jail:- Living beings in
Prisoners who mode of
have to work hard passion
C class jail:- kept In mode of
in strong ignorance like
confinement trees, animals
“All men are forced to act
helplessly according to the
impulses born of modes of
material nature; therefore no
one can refrain from doing
something, not even for a
moment.”
B.G. 3.5
Our real life is eternal, blissful and full of
knowledge.
Under the illusion of goodness,
however, we look for this reality in
mundane learning and a feeling of
material satisfaction.
In passion, we seek it in sex and
possessions; and in Ignorance, we seek
it in sleep and intoxication. Thus our
pure spiritual nature is perverted by
impure desires, born of the modes of
nature.
Krsna is
‘svarat’,
completely
independent

He can do
whatever He
likes.
Since living entities are tiny parts
of God, we also have His quality
of Independence—but only in a
minute quantity, proportionate
to our size.
According to our material desires, our body acts
either in goodness, passion, ignorance or some
combination.
These desires spring from our bodily concept of
life.
The ways we try to fulfill these desires are also
material.
THE LAW OF KARMA: THE
INFALLIBLE JUSTICE
MECHANISM OF
REINCARNATION
The soul resides within two types of
material bodies– the gross body and the
subtle body. These bodies develop and
function only because of the presence of
the self within them.
 Gross Body
The gross body is made up of earth
(solids), water (liquids), fire (jatharagni),
air (gases) and ether (space and sound).
Gross body is called as ‘Sthula sarira’.
 Subtle Body
• It is made up of mind, intelligence and false ego.
• It is called as ‘Sukshma sarira’.
• Mind is store house of previous experiences,
unfulfilled desires and thoughts
• Intelligence is the decision maker
• False ego is to think in illusion that, ‘I am this body’.
 Conditioned Soul
Subtle body and Gross body are coverings on the
soul. Such a soul entrapped in these coverings is
called a CONDITIONED SOUL. One who becomes
free from these coverings and attains the spiritual
consciousness is called a LIBERATED SOUL.
What is Death?
When the gross body is worn out and
uninhabitable, the soul and the subtle
body leave it. This is what we
commonly call “death”.
The subtle body contains the record of all
the living entity’s thoughts, activities and
desires, and it is these that determine the
soul’s next gross body.
By the laws of karma, and under the
direction of Paramatma, the living
entity reincarnates in a body just
suitable to the mentality – a change
we commonly call “birth”.
Just like air carries fragrance of a
rose, the subtle body very subtly
carries the soul to another gross
body at the time of death.
According to the condition of
the mind at the time of
death, the minute spirit soul
enters into the womb of a
particular mother through
the semen of a father, and
then…
The soul develops the body given by the mother.
The soul can travel with the subtle body
under any circumstances. OBE (out-of-body
experiences), NDE (near-death experiences),
Hypnotic regression into past lives, yogis’
siddhis are therefore possible.
Bodies are Tailor-made’ to satisfy soul’s desires

A tailor measures and

stitches a perfect suit for us
Krsna is capable of fulfilling every
living entity’s desires. There are 8.4
million species for us to choose.
Within Srimad Bhagavatam is the
potential basis of great scientific
research work, for it explains how
subtle forms are generated from the
ethereal element, how the tangible
elements, namely air, fire, water and
earth are manifested from the subtle
form.
Mental activities, or
psychological activities of
thinking, feeling and
willing are also activities
on the platform of
ethereal existence.
Mental existence transforms into
tangible form as soon as there is an
opportunity. So, the soul being
carried by the subtle body,
occupies a womb depending on
the unfulfilled desires stored in the
subtle body.
Do you like to eat
flesh and drink
blood?
Nature says:
‘Come on! Take
this body of a tiger
or lion!’
Do you like to be in water
always and keep swimming?
(Some swimmers are mad.
They want to swim from Palk
Straight to English Canal!)
Nature says: ‘Come on! Take the
body of a fish and swim to your
heart’s content!’
Some people don’t want to
wear proper clothes in their
body. They want to expose
major part of their body and
draw the attention of
opposite sex.
Nature says: ‘Take the
body of a Tree, and
stand naked to your
heart’s content in all
seasons like summer,
winter etc.’
The living entity has a particular
form called as ‘Svaroopa’,
which is his eternal form in the
spiritual world. That does not
change when the living entity
moves from one body to another
body.
Definition of Karma

The function and activity of the

living entity within the framework
of his free will and under the
influence of the 3 modes of
material nature over a span of
time.
Every action has an appropriate
reaction
If someone is very charitable, in his
next birth he may be very wealthy.
If someone performs abortion, he or
she will suffer the same fate in the
next life.
Good Karma & Bad Karma
There exist so many disparities in
the society…some are poor while
some are rich etc.,
Some ask, ‘why is God so unfair?”
This lifetime is not the beginning of
our existence.
2 children are born on the same day.
One is born with a silver spoon,
bright, healthy, wealthy, attractive
with a future full of promise.
The second child is born to a
mother, a good lady, who was
abandoned while pregnant.
Just as a person selects an
automobile based on personal
driving needs and purchasing
power, material nature
responding to our desires and
actions arranges our body.
If one performs action according to the
laws of God as given in the scriptures,
then it is called Karma (or Good Karma)
If one wastes this human form of life
which is meant for self realisation by
engaging solely in the animalistic
activities then it is Bad Karma
(Vikarma)
Ignorance of Law is no Excuse
• Once a boy was waiting for electric train in Bombay and
all trains were full; But by mistake, without knowledge
he got into first class which was less crowded but very
soon caught by ticket checker and fined.
Similarly Vedas are there;
authorised spiritual teachers are
there; knowledge is there. These are
meant for humans, not for cats or
dogs. If one does not show interest
in God and remains in ignorance he
has to be punished.
 Quote
A-brahma-bhuvanal lokah
Punar avartino ‘rjuna
Mam upetya tu kaunteya
Punar janma na vidyate
“From the highest planet in the material world
down to the lowest, all are places of misery
wherein repeated birth and death take place.
But one who attains to My abode, O son of
Kunti, never takes birth again.” [B.G. 8.16]
If a man steals something and
has changed dress, he cannot
escape punishment. The police
will catch him and punish him.
Similarly we may have performed
some bad activity in the past and
now have changed our dress
(body), but we have to reap the
bad result. That is why
sometimes good people appear
to suffer.
With a broader vision of
universal justice, we can
see how each individual
soul is alone responsible
for his own karma.
The laws of reincarnation
operate impartially to award
each living being the destiny
he has earned by his previous
actions.
God is an all-compassionate being
Human form is very rare and MEANT
ONLY FOR SELF-REALISATION.
One cannot misuse it.
Animals don’t get karma. So if we want
to be just animalistic, we will be given an
animal’s body.
What is Collective Karma?
Everyone of us have to bear
the reaction for our individual
actions in future
But why sometimes a whole
family, society or country
suffers?
 Bosnia, Vietnam or Africa etc., suffer
due to collective bad karma.
Sometimes people who have
previously committed heinous acts
like cow-killing or abortion are all
pooled up together in one airplane
and they are all finished by plane
crash.
Eternal Damnation in Hell
after one sinful life?

Does everything rests on our

performance in this one
lifetime only?
God is all-merciful. He gives us
innumerable opportunities to
develop our inherent spiritual
qualities through many lives until we
return to our original home in the
spiritual world where there is no
reincarnation.
Miseries of Material Existence
Even if one is elevated to heavenly
planets due to one’s good karma he
has to undergo the cycle of birth,
old age, disease and death.
A company may give some
money and 20 days to its
employee to enjoy in some
tourist resort. Going to
heavenly planets is like that.
But after the leave is over, the man has
to come back to job and work hard
again. Similarly when the ‘punya’ is over,
‘ksine punye martya lokam visanti’ one
falls back into the same earth to again
continue birth and death. What is the
use of such temporary elevation to
heaven?
Birth is so painful, the Vedas say, that
the process eradicates any past-life
memories one may have retained.
The soul is so habituated to living in
the body that he must be forced out
by the laws of nature at the moment
of death.
Even the tiniest insects will display
the most amazing abilities and
techniques for avoiding death
when their lives are threatened.
But as death is inevitable for all
living beings, so are the fear and
pain associated with it.
How to act without
Entanglement?

One must do A-KARMA which

means aligning one’s
activities to Krsna’s desires.
Example
There are two students, one a
devotee; other a materialistic
fruitive worker. The devotee student
is studying for Krsna. The fruitive
worker student will make multiple
future plans and get more and more
entangled in the modes of mat.
Nature.
A soldier in the army may kill
100’s of people in the opposite
army and get highest reward for
it but after his retirement, if he
kills some one due to some
enmity, he will be given death
sentence.
The soldier in the first case acted on
Government’s account (by their
order) and in the second case on his
own behalf.
Similarly we must perform actions
on Lord’s account and not on our
own account.
Ideal example of Arjuna and
Duryodhana

Arjuna fought for the pleasure of

Krsna and is glorified even today;
Duryodhana fought for his own
personal motives and he became
infamous.
Arjuna knew that everything is
moving and acting under the
supreme will of Krsna and that he is
only an instrument/ puppet in
Krsna’s hands, to be used in the way
Krsna wanted to use him. This is the
way of acting without
entanglement.
Similarly we should work
according to Krsna’s interest as
follows:
Yudhistir was asked to tell a lie
that Ashwattama died
Vibheesan left his demoniac
brother Ravana and joined Lord
Rama
Although these activities may
apparently appear to be contrary
to moral principles we should
understand that they are on a
transcendental plane. Krsna is
the father of religion.
In a dark room a candle may
certainly be good. Mundane
moral principles are like that. But
when sun rises in the sky what is
the stand of an insignificant
candle? That sun is like the will
of Lord Krsna.
Quote
Karmano hy api boddhavyam
Boddhavyam ca vikarmanah
Akarmanas ca boddhavyam
Gahana karmano gatih
“The intricacies of action are very hard to
understand. Therefore one should know
properly what action is, what forbidden
action is, and what inaction is.” [B.G. 4.17]
Krsna is our mother, father,
relative, friend, be all and end all.
He knows what is best for every
living entity. He acts in a way to
bring good to every living entity.
Lord is never immoral. HE IS ALL
GOOD.
(eg) mother slaps or embraces a
child – but she truly loves it.
Similarly Krsna may kill demons and
favor devotees but it is all for
everyone’s good. So Lord’s activities
are supramundane and a devotee
should just co-operate with the
Lord.
Greatest Welfare Work
 Feeding the poor, doing charity,
opening hospitals are only secondary
to genuinely taking care of the soul
through spiritual education and
practices.
Parrot and the golden cage
The care taker of the
parrot spent all her time in
taking care of the cage
rather than feeding the
parrot; the parrot
eventually died.
Similarly in this age people are outright
body conscious. They totally neglect feeding
spiritual food to the soul.
Real welfare work is realizing and practicing
one’s own spiritual duty and teaching the
same to others.
Contentment, Satisfaction,
Happiness come only to those
whose purpose of life is to
please the Supreme Lord.
There is a nice story to
illustrate that only a
person who gives God
consciousness is the only
greatest well wisher.
Once a multi-
millionaire lost his
small child in a big
festival. The child was
roaming in the
streets like a pauper
and came across 4
people in the street.
 First one gave the
child some food to
eat. The second gave
some dress to wear.
The third gave some
medicines for it’s
wounds.
MEDICINES
The fourth man saw that the
child is the son of millionaire.
He felt great compassion upon
seeing the present plight of
the child and took the child
back to his father.
The father’s joy
knew no bounds. He
embraced the child
and soaked him in
an ocean of love. He
gave child
everything – 64
varieties of food to
choose….etc.,
The child became very happy after
reunion with his father. The fourth
man who took the child back to his
father is compared to a pure devotee
who delivers the living entity from the
material world and takes him back to
the supreme abode of Krsna.
Krsna is our
eternal well-
wisher and father.
Once you go back
to Krsna, then all
your needs will be
fulfilled.
 Quote
Samo ‘ham sarva-bhutesu
Na me dvesyo ‘sti na priyah
Ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya
Mayi te tesu sapy aham
“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am
equal to all. But whoever renders service
unto ME in devotion is a friend, is in ME, and I
am also a friend to him.” [B. G. 9.29]
ART OF DYING IN KRISHNA
CONSCIOUSNESS
Time and Tide wait for none
Lord Krsna exhibited His Universal
form to Arjuna. The form was so fierce
and fearful.
Arjuna asked Krsna the mission of the
form. Krsna replied that This form is
Time; Time is Destruction; all
manifestations are to be destroyed by
the desire of the Supreme Lord. This is
the law of nature.
A conditioned soul lives in a body for a
fixed time and it is recommended in the
scriptures that within that small
measurement of time one has to perfect
his Krsna consciousness and thus gain
release from the influence of the time
factor.
“mrityu sarva haras caham” – I will
take away everything at the time of
death – B.G. 10.34.

Foolish people without realizing the

temporary nature of their
materialistic pursuits, waste their
valuable time.
Death comes without
Announcement
Example
Once a lady had not paid the rent for her
house. One fine morning, the
policemen came and silently broke
open the house, chucked her out while
she was still sleeping and before she
could realize, she along with her
belongings were out of the house. This
is how death comes to us.
One fine day we are going to be
chucked out of this body for
which we are spending all time!
It is not pessimism as some
people think. It is a harsh reality!
Who can deny this?
The foolish materialists say that they
do not want to surrender to God,
because they want to ‘enjoy’. But
when they are put into trouble they
go for habits such as smoking,
boozing, drugs and sex indulgence
to temporarily forget the reality.
But devotees have
different kind of
enjoyment. They
enjoy everything
through Krsna.
They relish tasty Krsna prasad. They
dance gracefully for the pleasure of
the Dieties of Radha-Krsna. They get
mental peace as well as Intellectual
satisfaction through chanting and
reading of transcendental
literatures.
When all economic
development and
advancement are utilized to
advance in Krishna
consciousness, a new phase
of progressive life arises.
Death of a Devotee and a Demon

•For Devotees Death comes as Krsna

•For Demons Krsna comes as Death
•Example of a cat carrying it’s kitten and a
mouse; mouse is feeling the jaws of
death but kittens are comfortable and
safe.
At the time of death the devotees
are transferred to the spiritual
realm, Vaikuntha, whereas the
ordinary sinful man is dragged down
to the hellish regions by the
Yamdhutas, the Constables of
Yamaraja.
Life is Preparation,
Death is Final
Examination
 Quote
Anta-kale ca mam eva
Smaran muktva kalevaram
Yah prayati sa mad-bhavam
Yati nasty atra samsayah
“And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his
body remembering Me alone at once
attains My nature, Of this there is no
doubt” [B.G. 8.5]
 Quote
Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
Tyajaty ante kalevaram
Tam tam evaiti kaunteya
Sada tad-bhava-bhavitah
“Whatever state of being one remembers
when he quits his body, O son of Kunti,
that state he will attain without fail”
[B.G.8.6]
Quote
Tasmat sarvesu kalesu
Mam anusmara yudhya ca
Mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
Mam evaisyasy asamsayah
“You should always think of Me in the form of Krsna and
at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of
fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your
mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me
without doubt.”
 All paths do not lead to the same
goal
It is important to know the Siddhantha
or ‘conclusion’ about the ultimate
destination of the living entity to be
achieved.
If I take a ticket to Calcutta I cannot
expect the train to take me to
Chennai.
Unless one has aspired to love and
serve Krsna while being in this body,
he cannot expect to go to the
Supreme abode to join the Lord in
His eternal pastimes.
If someone imagines God to
have no form or attribute
and desires to merge into
brahman, he will have to go
to brahma jyoti.
Life is a Preparation period for training
our body and mind to love and serve
Krsna. Gradually, we will be cleansed of
all misgivings (like lust, pride, envy,
anger and illusion) and develop a
spontaneous love for serving Krsna.
Quote
Abhyasa-yoga-yuktena
Cetasa nanya-gamina
Paramam purusam divyam
Yati parthanucintayan
“He who meditates on Me as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, his mind constantly
engaged in remembering Me, undeviated
from the path, he, O Partha, is sure to reach
ME.” [B.G. 8.8]
One’s thoughts during the
course of one’s life
accumulate to influence
one’s thoughts at the
moment of death. So the
way we lead our present life
is going to decide our next
life.
ALWAYS THINK OF KRISHNA!
NEVER FORGET KRISHNA!!
(Padma Purana)

Example: Gopis
A person who has led a materialistic life
throughout cannot think of Krsna even if
he endeavors to, at the time of his
death. How can a student who has not
prepared anything for his exam get a
distinction?
By seeing our sincerity in serving Him,
Krsna gives His remembrance at the
time of our death. This is His special
mercy. Otherwise, death is a very
agonizing experience involving intense
pain and it is impossible to think of
anything.
So one should tolerate all the
impediments in spiritual life and
continue to chant,
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare,
so that at the end of one’s life one
can have the full benefit of Krsna
consciousness
Knowledge that one is not the
material body, but a spirit soul, is
not sufficient for liberation. One
must ACT on the platform of spirit
soul. This is called Bhakti
(Devotional Service) which
includes...
Practical techniques for
becoming free from Karma
and Reincarnation
The first principle of
devotional service is that
one should regularly
chant a fixed number of
rounds of Hare Krsna
Maha Mantra.
2. One should regularly study the
Vedic literatures especially Bhagavad
Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam to
develop a thorough understanding of
the nature of the self, the laws of
karma, the process of reincarnation
and the means for self-realization.
One should eat only
spiritualized vegetarian
foods.
One should avoid meat, fish,
eggs, intoxicants.
One should not engage in
illicit sex.
One can offer the fruits of
one’s work to God. Work has
to be done as a sacrifice for
Lord Visnu. Otherwise work
causes bondage.
By following these simple techniques
, anyone can become free from the
effects of karma. Conversely, if one
does not follow them, one is sure to
become entangled in the actions and
reactions of material life.