Category:Influence of Material Nature
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that every living entity in the material world is subject to the powerful influence of material nature. This influence acts through the three modes—goodness, passion, and ignorance—which dictate the psychological and biological activities of the conditioned soul. Under this spell, the soul becomes bewildered, falsely identifying with the material body and claiming to be the independent doer of activities that are actually carried out by nature. Liberation is only possible when one recognizes the supremacy of Kṛṣṇa and surrenders to His divine will, thereby rising above the mundane qualities of the material world.
- The Mechanism of Conditioning: Every conditioned soul is forced to act according to a specific mixture of the modes of material nature, which determines their body and mental state.
- The Illusion of the Doer: Bewildered by false ego, the soul thinks himself the master and doer, whereas all actions are actually conducted by the laws of nature under the Lord's supervision.
- Biological and Psychological Impact: The influence of nature creates specific bodily constructions and psychological drives that bind the soul to its immediate environment and species.
- Transcendence of the Supreme Lord: Unlike the infinitesimal living entities, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees are never subject to the influence of material nature.
- The Process of Liberation: By engaging in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service, the soul can neutralize the influence of the modes and revive its original spiritual identity.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Bewildering Influence of Material Nature.
Subcategories
This category has only the following subcategory.
Pages in category "Influence of Material Nature"
The following 156 pages are in this category, out of 156 total.
2
A
- A great Vaisnava poet has written - When a man is haunted by ghosts, he can only speak nonsense. Similarly, anyone who is under the influence of material nature should be considered haunted, and whatever he speaks should be considered nonsense
- A person engaged in Krsna consciousness is at once liberated from the influence of the three modes of material nature
- According to Madhvacarya, the living entity is called puranjana because he has become an inhabitant of this material world, and under the influence of the three modes of material nature, he is forced to live within it
- Actually, as soon as a living entity puts himself under the control of the modes of material nature, his acts are influenced by the qualities of material nature, and he becomes passive
- Actually, the living entity, or soul, does not do anything; everything is done under the influence of the modes of material nature
- Actually, we are not independent. If I think I am independent of Krsna, then I am dependent on the influence of material nature. Just like, if I think that I am independent of government regulations, then I become dependent of the police force
- Aham brahmasmi: "I am not this body." This is applicable only to the person who constantly engages in the devotional service of Krsna and is thus in the transcendental stage; he is above the influence of the three modes of material nature
- Akrura continued, "Even demigods like Lord Brahma, being covered by the influence of material nature, do not exactly know Your transcendental existence beyond the cosmic manifestation of the three modes of material nature"
- Akrura continued, "You (Krsna) are the Supersoul of everything, but no one knows Your transcendental form. Everyone within this material world is influenced by the modes of material nature"
- All the planets in the universe are situated according to the different grades of living entities under the influence of the modes of material nature
- An example given in this regard (being the supreme controller of the laws of nature, the Lord cannot be under their influence) is that although the wind blows through many places, the air is not affected by the qualities of these places
- An intelligent person must free himself from the influence of the three modes of material nature and revive his original, spiritual body by engaging in the service of the Supreme Person, Krsna
- Anyone who is engaged in Krsna consciousness, or devotional service, is already liberated from the influence of the modes of material nature
- Anyone who surrenders unto Him can overcome the influence of the stringent laws of material nature
- Anyone who wants to be secure from the influence of the modes of material nature must take shelter of Him - the Supreme Lord
- Arguments may be put forward as to why we have been put under the influence of this material energy by the supreme will of the Lord
- As bubbles in the water appear in different shapes, the living entities also appear in the material world in different shapes and conditions, influenced by the modes of material nature
- As long as one has even a slight desire to enjoy or lord it over material nature, there is no chance of his being freed from the influence of nature's material modes
- As long as one is in the material world, he has to be under the influence of the modes of material nature (guna-visarga). It is not that Maharaja Priyavrata was freed from material influence because he possessed all material opulences
- As long as we are in the material world, it is not possible to classify everyone in the same category because each and every person is working under the influence of the modes of material nature
- As the contamination of the germs of a particular disease can influence a weaker person, similarly the influence of material nature, or illusory energy, can act on the weaker, or conditioned, soul but not on the liberated soul
- As we have learned from the Second Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the ruling power of the demigods and the influence of material nature are conspicuous by their absence in the spiritual world
B
- Because of His (the Supreme Lord) full knowledge, He is never subjected to the influence of material nature
- Being influenced by the modes of material nature, he identifies himself with the body and, for the interest of the body, becomes attached to various activities
- Being unpurified, neglecting to discharge human duties properly, and being influenced by the modes of passion (rajas) and ignorance (tamas), unclean people (mlecchas), posing as members of the government (rajanya-rupinah), will swallow the citizens
- BG 3.27: "The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature." The living entities work only under the direction of the Supreme Lord
- Brahma visiting Krsna as four-headed Brahma. He was little proud that, "I am the original, first creature of this universe. I have got four heads, four hands." The material nature, the influence of material nature, is like that
- Brahma-bhutah prasannatma: (BG 18.54) when one is self-realized he becomes happy and free from the influence of material nature, and at that time he is freed from lamentation and hankering
- By attaining the highest platform of devotional service, as I have explained, one can overcome the influence of the three modes of material nature and be situated in the transcendental stage, as is the Lord
- By the influence of nature, by the modes of nature, we are thinking that "I am happy." That is actually not happiness
E
- Even His learned devotees are not affected by the influence of the material modes
- Even if we accumulate a million dollars, we must leave it all behind when we leave this body. We need to come to understand that in the material world whatever we are doing is being defeated by the influence of material nature
- Every conditioned soul is influenced by a particular mixture of the modes of material nature. The conditioned soul is attracted to certain types of activity which he is forced to perform because he is completely under the influence of material nature
- Every living entity under the influence of material nature has a particular type of body and a particular type of psychological and biological activities accordingly
- Every planet has its own atmosphere according to the influence of the arrangement of material nature. It is therefore necessary to have a particular type of bodily construction to reach a particular planet
F
- Faithless nonbelievers may be highly educated in the material sense of the term, but they are the greatest fools of the world because by the influence of the external, material nature all their so-called acquisition of knowledge has been made null & void
- False ego, which is under the influence of the material modes of nature and which induces one to think, "I am this body, and everything connected with this body is mine," should be merged, along with material activities, in Rudra
H
- He is under the influence of the material nature. The tiger may be very powerful, but he remains always hungry. Because the other animals, they know that in that corner of the forest there is tiger, nobody goes there. Where he can get food?
- He thus remains steadfast and never works to achieve another material body under the influence of the three modes of material nature
- Here (SB 4.29.74) it is also explained that the living entity comes in contact with the sixteen material elements and is influenced by the three modes of material nature
- His (God's) birth does not, like that of the living entities, take place under the influence of material nature and the bondage of the reactions of past deeds. His works & activities are independent pastimes and are not subject to the reactions of nature
- How can one understand that he has already transcended the influence of the modes of material nature? The second question asks how he lives and what his activities are. Are they regulated or nonregulated? BG 1972 purports
I
- If one in this human form of life does not understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His abode, it is to be understood that he is very much affected by the influence of external nature
- If the individual living being were equal to the Supreme Lord both qualitatively and quantitatively, there would be no question of his being under the influence of the material energy
- If they (the living entities) are influenced by the modes of passion and ignorance, they are vaisyas, and if they are influenced by ignorance, they are sudras
- If they (the living entities) are primarily influenced by the mode of goodness, they are called brahmanas, and if they are influenced by the mode of passion, they are called ksatriyas
- In all cases the living entity thinks himself to be the master of his circumstances, yet he is under the influence of material nature. BG 1972 purports
- In Bhagavad-gita (BG 2.45), Krsna advises Arjuna, traigunya-visaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna: one must rise above the influence of the three modes of material nature
- In that position of self-realization, by practice of knowledge and renunciation in devotional service, one sees everything in the right perspective; he becomes indifferent to material existence, and the material influence acts less powerfully upon him
- In the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no influence of material energy (dhamna svena sada nirasta-kuhakam). Any place where the SPofG is present by His name, form, qualities or paraphernalia immediately becomes a dhama
- In the conditional state, we are influenced by material nature. We have already discussed how we are conditioned by the three modes of material nature - ignorance, passion and goodness
- In the superior life forms, spiritual consciousness is fully awakened. Then the living entity understands his real position and tries to escape the influence of material energy by developing Krsna consciousness
- It does not mean that we are finished just because we change our bodies. Before we can get out from the influence of material nature, we have to understand where our place actually is, where we are to go
- It has already been stated in the 17th Chapter that one who has surrendered to Krsna is relieved from the activities of material nature. Therefore for one who is able to see things as they are, the influence of material nature gradually ceases. BG 1972 p
- It is repeatedly said in the Katha Upanisad that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is never affected by the influence of material nature
- It is stated in Bhagavad-gita (BG 3.27): "The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature"
- It is the purpose of this Society for Krsna consciousness to enlighten all people who have been maddened by the influence of the three modes of material nature. In other words, our aim is to awaken mankind to its normal condition
K
- Karmana daiva-netrena: (SB 3.31.1) we work under the influence of material nature contaminated by the three modes, and thus we get a certain type of body according to superior order. This is called karma-bandha
- Karta means the proprietor or the master. One is not actually master, but under the influence of different modes of material nature he is feeling, "I am master. I am enjoyer. I am bhokta." This is the trouble
- Krsna further explained to His father, "This cosmic manifestation is going on under the influence of three modes of material nature - goodness, passion and ignorance. These three modes are the causes of creation, maintenance and destruction"
L
- Liberation means not to be under the influence of the modes of material nature, not to be infected by the modes of material nature, especially passion and ignorance. That is mukti
- Lord Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "The influence of the material nature is insurmountable, but anyone who surrenders unto Me can verily overcome the influence of material nature"
M
- Maya, or the influence of nature, in this age especially, it is very, very strong, and majority of people are therefore addicted to this sinful life: illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication
- Mental activities under the influence of material nature cause happiness and distress within the material world
O
- Of course, it is not possible to clear out the rubbish from the mind all of a sudden, but we are immediately aware that the influence of the material nature has become slackened
- One who stays within the influence of the three material modes is unable to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- One’s activities are all performed under the influence of the modes of material nature - prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah - BG 3.27
- Our love for Krsna is there already. But it is covered. It is covered. By the influence of the modes of material nature, it is covered
- Our repetition of birth and death is taking place within time, and according to the influence of the modes of nature, we are receiving various types of bodies and being subjected to various conditions
- Out of that unlimited expansion of minute portions of the Supreme Lord, some are covered by the influence of material nature, whereas others are free
P
- Pakva-gunasayah has special significance, for it means that by devotional service one is able to give up the influence of the three modes of material nature. As long as one is influenced by the modes of material nature, he cannot return to Godhead
- Paripasyati means that he can see everything in its right perspective. Then the influence of material nature becomes almost nil. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita
- Persons who work at their prescribed duties, not for sense gratification but for gratification of the Supreme Lord, are called nihsanga, freed from the influence of the modes of material nature
- Prakrteh kriyamana-ni gunaih karmani sarvasah (BG 3.27). Everyone is acting under the influence of material nature, and only fools think they can improve upon what God has created
- Pure devotees may deal with the three modes of material nature, but because of their transcendental intelligence in Krsna consciousness, they are not influenced by the material qualities. The spell of material activities does not attract such devotees
S
- Sex life is the cause of bondage of the conditioned soul to remain in the material world. If one can conquer over the sex impulses voluntarily, he conquers over the influence of material nature
- So long we are influenced by the two material modes of nature, rajo-guna and tamo-guna, then we will be pushed for fulfilling our lusty desires and greediness. And that will help us to become implicated in sinful activities
- So we are falsely trying to enjoy maya. Enjoy means master. That is not possible. Tribhir gunamayair bhavaih. This is the influence of the three modes of material nature
- Sometimes the demigods become puffed up by the influence of material nature; thinking themselves all in all, they forget the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead
- Spiritual education changes one's consciousness so that one simply carries out the orders of the Supreme Lord and becomes free from the influence of the modes of material nature
- Such authorities (like the four Kumaras and Narada) can by nature understand the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but a conditioned soul not freed from the influence of material nature is unable to realize the Supreme
- Such influence manifests the three qualitative modes of material nature, proving definitely that the living entities, the marginal potency, are eternally servitors of the Lord and are therefore controlled by either the internal or the external potency
T
- The activities of the conditioned souls under the influence of material nature are explained here (in SB 3.31.15). Every conditioned soul is engaged in different types of work under the influence of material nature
- The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature
- The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature - Bhagavad-gita 3.27
- The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities which are in actuality carried out by nature - BG 3.27
- The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature. BG 3.27 - 1972
- The conditioned soul is under the influence of the various modes of material nature
- The conditioned souls are not originally fools, but by the influence of the avidya function of material nature they are made fools, and thus they are unable to utilize knowledge in the proper channel
- The conditioned souls, or the minute infinitesimal parts and parcels of the Supreme, who are affected by the influence of material nature and who appear in different bodies under the material modes
- The covering influence of material nature is so strong that the living entity is satisfied in whatever body he gets, and he identifies with that body with great pleasure
- The demigods prayed (to Krsna) - Men influenced by the three modes of material nature imagine their own God according to the modes of material nature. In this way God is presented in various ways
- The entire world is working under the influence of the modes of material nature, especially ignorance and passion, but if people engage in hearing and chanting about the glories of the Supreme Lord, their lives can be successful
- The eternal happiness which the living being wants is obtainable in the kingdom of God, but the forgetful living beings under the influence of the material modes have no information of the kingdom of God
- The foolish embodied living entity, inept at controlling his senses and mind, is forced to act according to the influence of the modes of material nature, against his desires
- The human soul further prays: The living entity is put under the influence of material nature and continues a hard struggle for existence on the path of repeated birth and death
- The influence of material nature cannot harm an enlightened soul, even though he engages in material activities, because he knows the truth of the Absolute, and his mind is fixed on the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The influence of material nature cannot reach beyond the Viraja, or Causal Ocean, as confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam - SB 2.9.10
- The influence of material nature is very difficult to surpass, but as stated by Krsna in Bhagavad-gita (BG 7.14), mam eva ye prapadyante, mayam etam taranti te: if one voluntarily submits to the lotus feet of Krsna, he can be saved very easily
- The living entity cannot conquer the influence of the material modes of nature by his own endeavor, but because material nature is working under the control of the Supreme Lord, the Lord is beyond its jurisdiction
- The Lord confirms (in the BG) "Although the stringent laws of material nature are very difficult to overcome, one who surrenders unto the Lord can very easily cross over nescience." There is no influence of material nature in the spiritual world
- The Lord here (in BG 18.40) summarizes the total influence of the three modes of material nature all over the universe. BG 1972 purports
- The Lord here summarizes the total influence of the three modes of material nature all over the universe
- The Lord is situated in everyone's heart. However, because the conditioned souls are influenced by material nature, they can see only the actions and reactions of material nature, but not the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The material body itself indicates that the living entity is already influenced by the three modes of material nature & that he is driven to enjoy material resources. When the body is influenced by the mode of ignorance, its infection becomes very acute
- The material world is pervaded by the three qualities of material nature. All living entities are influenced by these qualities
- The Mayavadi philosophers' conception of cessation of the functions of the mind is explained here (in SB 3.28.35): cessation of the mental functions means cessation of activities conducted under the influence of the three modes of material nature
- The Personality of Godhead, Kapila, continued: My dear mother, now I shall describe unto you the different categories of the Absolute Truth, knowing which any person can be released from the influence of the modes of material nature
- The results of peoples activities are divided into three because they are influenced by the three modes of material nature
- The Sanskrit word dehi means embodied. Although one is within this material body, by his advancement in spiritual knowledge he can be free from the influence of the modes of nature. BG 1972 purports
- The Supersoul enters into the bodies of the created beings who are influenced by the modes of material nature and causes them to enjoy the effects of these modes by the subtle mind
- The Supreme Lord is the master of the external energy manifested by the three material modes, namely goodness, passion and ignorance, and as master of this energy He is ever unaffected by the influence of such bewildering energy
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master of the material nature (mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sacaracaram (BG 9.10)). Therefore, being the supreme controller of the laws of nature, the Lord cannot be under their influence
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is unaffected by the influence of the three modes of material nature. Indeed, His devotees are also unpolluted by the influence of the external energy because they engage in the service of His Lordship
- The three qualities are described as three flags. By a flag, one can come to know who the owner of the chariot is; similarly, by the influence of the three qualities of material nature, one can easily know the direction in which the chariot is moving
- The worker in devotional service, in full Krsna consciousness, is always independent of the influence of material nature
- There are 8,400,000 life forms. The same living entity acts under the influence of the different qualities of material nature
- There are many different kinds of living entities-human beings, demigods, animals, etc.-and each and every one of them is under the influence of material nature, and all of them have forgotten the transcendent Personality of Godhead. BG 1972 purports
- There is a river, or causal ocean, between the spiritual and material natures, and this river is free from the influence of the three modes of material nature; therefore it is called Viraja
- There is no possibility for the Supreme Lord to become embodied by material qualities or material senses, for He is above the influence of material nature and cannot possibly be put in the darkness of ignorance like the living entities
- There is no qualitative difference between him and the Supreme Lord, but because he is not so quantitatively powerful as to never be put under the influence of material nature, he is quantitatively different from the Lord
- They also admitted that even yogis who are not devotees of the Lord are covered by the influence of material energy. This kind of hopelessness felt by the brahmanas who were performing ritualistic ceremonies shows practically no attachment for Krsna
- Thinking himself a king, King Rahugana was in the bodily conception and was influenced by material nature's modes of passion and ignorance. Due to madness, he chastised Jada Bharata with uncalled-for and contradictory words
- This is greatest contribution of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to fight against this attack of material influence
- This is not the case with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because He is not under the influence of the material energy or its modes
- This river (the causal ocean) is free from the influence of the three modes of material nature; therefore it is called Viraja. The prefix vi means vigata (completely eradicated), and rajas means - the influence of the material world
- Those who are advanced in transcendental consciousness, or Krsna consciousness, are never envious, neither of the soul nor of the activities of the soul under the influence of material nature
- To become free from material existence means to become free from the influence of material nature
- To overcome the influence of material nature is very difficult, but the devotees or the saintly persons who are under the protection of the Lord are not affected. So what need is there to speak of the Lord Himself
- Transcendentally situated, the devotee becomes automatically free. He need not try to become free from the influence of the modes of material nature. BG 1972 purports
U
- Uddhava continued, "He (Krsna) appears by His internal potency just to give protection to His devotees. He is never influenced by the modes of material nature"
- Under the influence of illusory material energy, we accept this spot-life of only a few years as our permanent existence and thus become illusioned by possessing so-called country, home, land, children, wife, community, wealth, etc
- Under the influence of material nature, foolish and ignorant living beings who are but parts and parcels of the Lord try to conjecture about the Lord's transcendental position
- Unfortunately, living beings under the influence of material nature ask for many other things & they are described in the Bhagavad-gita (2.41) as having divided, or splayed, intelligence. Spiritual intelligence is one, but mundane intelligence is diverse
- Unless one is situated on the transcendental platform of Krsna consciousness, he cannot get free from the influence of the modes of material nature, as it is confirmed by the Lord in the Seventh Chapter (BG 7.14). BG 1972 purports
W
- We cannot understand the Absolute Truth or the Supreme Person by mental speculation, especially when we are under the influence of the three modes of material nature - sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna
- We should know it with certainty from the descriptions of these few verses that all the transformations and influences of material nature by the three modes are also productions of material nature. BG 1972 purports
- We should see all women as spiritual units (aham brahmasmi), whose only duty is to satisfy Krsna. Then the influences of the different modes of material nature, which result from one's possessing a material body, will not act
- When a conditioned soul is seriously anxious to get out of the influence of the material clutches, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated within him as Paramatma, gives him this knowledge: Surrender unto Me
- When he (the living entity) falls into the clutches of material energy, he becomes a victim of the three modes of material nature. Indeed, whatever he does, he does under the influence of material nature
- When He (the Supersoul) sees that a conditioned soul is very serious about getting out of the clutches of the material influence, the Supreme Lord gives intelligence internally as Supersoul and externally as the spiritual master
- When I realize that I am not this body, then immediately I transcend the three modes of material nature: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Under the bodily concept of life, I am influenced by one of the modes
- When one acts sinfully in this life, he gets a suitable body for the next life. When one again acts sinfully, he takes on another material body. In this way one is continuously under the influence of material nature
- When one is completely free from the influence of all the modes of material nature, one becomes a pure Vaisnava on the devotional platform
- When one is freed from the influence of the modes of material nature, he enters into devotional service. BG 1972 purports
- When we come into this material world, we become contaminated, we become affected by this, by the influence of this material nature. But Visnu, although He is looking after the management of creation of this brahmanda, He is not affected
- When you are free from the conception of gross and subtle bodies and when your senses are free from all influences of the modes of material nature, you will realize your pure form in My association. At that time you will be situated in pure consciousness