What are the dangers of the three Gunas? How Satva Guna too has risks?
A devotee asked like this:
“Hare Krishna, How can we free ourselves from the mode of goodness.. I have understood how one frees from mode of passion and ignorance.. But i am unable to understand goodness. Example, if i serve my grandmother only because i want to and not because I want something property from her, so that will be in the mode of goodness.. but how can one be free from it ?”
REPLY:
You seem to have the wish of becoming a Perfect devotee or liberated person. Because, You are worried about the dangers of the three Gunas and even about satva guna that is the good guna, but with a risk.
However, this is good thought. Why? Read further:
RISKS OF RAJO AND THAMO GUNAS AND BENEFITS OF SATVA GUNA
Getting rid of Rajo and Thamo guna is usually advised because these gunas are not favourable to our involvement in devotion. They pull us again in the material attachments by inducing us in offences. So, usually, we are advised to develop Satva Guna. Actually, satva guna encourages us to involve in devotional practices easily with less barriers.
THREE GUNAS (MODES) AND CAUSES FROM BHAGAVAD GITA! READ HERE!
Satva guna dominated people are usually have the following characteristics:
(1) They do not fight with others, but, forgive them.
(2) They speak kind and sweet words and do not use harsh words.
(3) They always act with care. They fear for offences.
(4) They like to help others and like to live as society.
(5) They do not have jealousy. So, they want to see others happy.
(6) They do not eat meat or egg. So, they are soft natured.
(7) They do not get angry except for the matters related to the Lord.
These qualities are suitable to cultivate Krishna Consciousness. So, a devotee is expected to first develop satva guna. If a devotee worships the Lord and also act with the domination of thamo and Rajo guna, he is a pretender. I have seen a devotee in Vaishnava dress fighting physically with his fellow devotee. This shows that he has not developed satva guna and he is still in thamo and rajo gunas though he is trying to practice Krishna Consciousness.
So, it is understood that one should first develop satva guna to come up in Devotion with less barriers and offences.
(Why satva guna is favorable to follow devotion to Krishna? READ HERE!)
RISKS OF SATVA GUNA
But, the TOPMOST state in our spiritual advancement is DESERTING EVEN THIS SATVA GUNA and becoming a devotee with the SUDDDHA SATVA GUNA.
Why?
Because, even satva guna dominated persons and devotees may be affected by some PRIDE when their good nature is appreciated by others. “Oh, what a nice guy he is!” “Oh, how soft natured he is” “Oh, how brilliant he is” like that.
By hearing such repeated praises, he may get pride and then, he may gradually fall from devotion. That is why, the scriptures advise us to be very careful even in satva guna state and become free from ego, pride, etc. He should be fully situated in spiritual platform and his thoughts will be centered ONLY ON Krishna.
So, the ultimate result of devotional practices is coming to the stage of avoiding pride, ego, etc., and considering that everything happens as per the wish of Krishna.
(How Only the Gunas act, not the persons as per Bhagavad Gita (14.19)? READ HERE!)
For example, when a person threw a liquor bottle on the head of Sri Nityanandha Prabhu, He did not get angry on that person, but wanted to elevate him.
How to achieve that forgiving nature?
There is no need for any separate practice or tuition for that. If you seriously follow Krishna Conscious rules and if you come to the state of having NO MATERIAL ATTACHMENTS, the next stage will automatically follow and you will be free from pride, ego, etc.
With the regular practice and experience with this material world, you will come to a state in which your eyes see all people and living beings mercifully as the part and parcels of Krishna. You will see everyone as the child of Lord. You will never get angry and disappointment. You will never like or hate anybody. You will become beyond twins like good – bad, right – wrong, success – failure, etc., as advised by the Lord in Bhagavad Gita.
You will feel ultimate bliss within yourself. You will always be ready to leave this planet and to act as instructed by Lord. You come to the stage of a child that has no plans. You will not have even a trace of contaminations and you become pure!
This state is ideal for following “Pure devotion”. This is possible only for the devotees who perform serious and sustained practices. So, if you have developed atleast satva guna, feel happy over it. While analyzing the dangers of the three Gunas the dangers of Satva Guna are less. Just continue your practices of devotion. The Lord will handle you however he prefers. But, 100% dedication to the Lord is important.
If you put a single step towards the Lord, He will take care of your elevation to that Pure State stage by stage.
Hope you are now clear about the dangers of the three Gunas and also the risks of Satva Guna.
(How to identify my Guna (Mode) and become a Satva Guna Person? READ HERE! )