What is knowledge in the mode of goodness, passion and ignorance? Knowledge concerning the spirit soul beyond this body is called knowledge in the mode of goodness, Knowledge producing many theories and doctrines by dint of mundane logic and mental speculation is the product of the mode of passion, and Knowledge concerned only with keeping the body comfortable is said to be in the mode of ignorance. In other words, That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all living entities, though they are divided into innumerable forms, should be understood to be in the mode of goodness. A person who sees one spirit soul in every living being, whether a demigod, human being, animal, bird, beast, aquatic or plant, possesses knowledge in the mode of goodness That knowledge by which one sees that in every different body there is a different type of living entity should be understood to be in the mode of passion. The concept that the material body is the living entity and that with the destruction of the body the consciousness is also destroyed is called knowledge in the mode of passion. According to that knowledge, bodies differ from one another because of the development of different types of consciousness, otherwise there is no separate soul which manifests consciousness. The body is itself the soul, and there is no separate soul beyond the body. According to such knowledge, consciousness is temporary. Or else there are no individual souls, but there is an all-pervading soul, which is full of knowledge, and this body is a manifestation of temporary ignorance. Or beyond this body there is no special individual or supreme soul. All such conceptions are considered products of the mode of passion. And that knowledge by which one is attached to one kind of work as the all in all, without knowledge of the truth, and which is very meager, is said to be in the mode of darkness. The knowledge of the common man is always in the mode of darkness or ignorance because every living entity in conditional life is born into the mode of ignorance. One who does not develop knowledge through the authorities or scriptural injunctions has knowledge that is limited to the body. He is not concerned about acting in terms of the directions of scripture. For him God is money, and knowledge means the satisfaction of bodily demands. Such knowledge has no connection with the Absolute Truth. It is more or less like the knowledge of the ordinary animals: the knowledge of eating, sleeping, defending and mating. Such knowledge is described as the product of the mode of darkness. HARE KRISHNA ...
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 11:48:50 +0000
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