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prakR^iti and karma
Dear Friends:
God has said that prakR^iti, using the three guNas (sattva, rajas and
tamas SBG 14.5) is the real doer of actions, man only thinks that he is
doing the works for his ego-sense (ahaMkAra) (SBG 3.27, 13.29) and the
realization of this fact is necessary. But prakR^iti alone does not have
guNas, we, the created beings have another type of guNa, that which
constitute our svabhAva. The svabhava-guNa is inherited from one birth to
another and God has said that the svabhAva-guNas generate the karma
appropriate to our varnas (18.41). The prakR^iti-guNas (sattva, rajas,
and tamas) and svabhAva-guNa together are involved in karma, but it appears
that svabhAva-guNa is more directly involved in karmic action (svabhAvastu
pravartate SBG 5.14), while the praKR^iti-guNas provide the inclination of
the karma (under the control of prakR^iti-guNas, people do their karma: SBG
3.29). In fact, nobody (even GYAnis) is outside the influence of the
prakR^iti-guNas (SBG 3.33), probably because praKR^iti is imperishable
(SBG 13.20) and is responsible for binding the jivAtman into physical
bodies (SBG 14.5). The last point (binding the jivAtman) is important to
recognize, for it implies that even sattva-guNa keeps the jivAtman bound,
such that salvation is in the state of triguNAtita.
However, God has especially warned us to watch for raja-guNa derived rAga,
dveshha (3.34) and kAma (3.37, 5.23, 26). These three can be overturn our
svabhava-guNa. The exercise of karma according to svabhAva is preferred
(SBG 3.35), but anger, jealousy and unlimited ambition (dushpuruniya
kAma) are the principal enemies (SBG 3.37-41). The muni who has been able
to do that is in brahma-nirvAna (SBG 5.26).
The person who has been able to go beyond the guNas, recognizes guNas to
be the doer of action (SBG 14.19) and becomes unattached to the surges of
guNas (SBG 14.22-23). This one achieves by bhakti-yoga too (14.26-27).
With best regards,
Dhruba.
