Conquering the Modes and Becoming a Pure Devotee

Srila Prabhupada explains as follows in his purport to Bhagavad-gita 14.10:

"When the mode of passion is prominent, the modes of goodness and ignorance are defeated. When the mode of goodness is prominent, passion and ignorance are defeated. And when the mode of ignorance is prominent, passion and goodness are defeated. This competition is always going on. Therefore, one who is actually intent on advancing in Krishna consciousness has to transcend these three modes. The prominence of some certain mode of nature is manifested in one's dealings, in his activities, in eating, etc. All this will be explained in later chapters. But if one wants, he can develop, by practice, the mode of goodness and thus defeat the modes of ignorance and passion. One can similarly develop the mode of passion and defeat goodness and ignorance. Or one can develop the mode of ignorance and defeat goodness and passion. Although there are these three modes of material nature, if one is determined he can be blessed by the mode of goodness, and by transcending the mode of goodness he can be situated in pure goodness, which is called the vasudeva state, a state in which one can understand the science of God. By the manifestation of particular activities, it can be understood in what mode of nature one is situated."

If we intelligently and determinedly follow Srila Prabhupada's above instructions, we will become liberated souls situated completely beyond the modes.

In This World Everyone is a Puppet of the Three Modes

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Answers by Citing the Vedic Version

Question: In Premature Death One Becomes a Ghost?

If somebody dies a premature death, does he or she roam as a ghost for the remainder of what would have been his normal earthly life. For example, if a person was supposed to live up to the age of 80 and dies at the age of 60, does he wander as a ghost for the remaining 20 years?

Your Servant,
Avinash G.

Answer: Next Body According to Consciousness at Time of Death

In this age the life span is 100 years. Therefore, practically everyone dies prematurely. Ghost life is punishment for those who commit suicide. Premature death does not mean that one becomes a ghost. One takes another body according to his consciousness at the time of death. If one fortunately remembers Krishna at the time of death, he attains an eternal life with Krishna in the spiritual sky. Or if one not does remember Krishna because he is holding onto a material attachment at the death, he will get another material body which matches his mentality. For example if he dies thinking of sex, he will get a body more suitable for sex such as the body of a pig.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari