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The 3 gunas are sometimes compared to 3 ropes, twisted together to
make one very strong rope, a rope that binds the conditioned living
being to material existence. Bhagavad-gita Chapter14 describes the
effect of the 3 modes, but it also describes how the modes can STOP
acting: when one undeviatingly engages in devotional service unto
Krishna, avyabhicari-bhakti.


BG 14.26: One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all
circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and
thus comes to the level of Brahman.


PURPORT:
One who surrenders unto Krsna at once surmounts the influence of the
modes of material nature. To be in Krsna consciousness or in
devotional service means to acquire equality with Krsna. The Lord says
that His nature is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge, and the
living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme, as gold particles
are part of a gold mine. Thus the living entity, in his spiritual
position, is as good as gold, as good as Krsna in quality. The
difference of individuality continues, otherwise there would be no
question of Bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga means that the Lord is there, the
devotee is there and the activity of exchange of love between the Lord
and the devotee is there. Therefore the individuality of two persons
is present in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the individual
person, otherwise there would be no meaning to bhakti-yoga. If one is
not situated in the same transcendental position with the Lord, one
cannot serve the Supreme Lord. To be a personal assistant to a king,
one must acquire the qualifications. Thus the qualification is to
become Brahman or freed from all material contamination.


Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.25 speaks about service to the spiritual master
with faith and devotion, while Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.18 refers to the
process of 'service unto the Bhagavata' (both book and person
Bhagavata: 1.2.18). We can understand that both lead to
avyabhicari-bhakti, as discussed on BHAGAVAD-GITA.


Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.18
TRANSLATION:
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of
service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is
almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality
of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established
as an irrevocable fact.


Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.25
TRANSLATION:
One must conquer the modes of passion and ignorance by developing the
mode of goodness, and then one must become detached from the mode of
goodness by promoting oneself to the platform of suddha-sattva. All
this can be automatically done if one engages in the service of the
spiritual master with faith and devotion. In this way one can conquer
the influence of the modes of nature.


PURPORT:
Just by treating the root cause of an ailment, one can conquer all
bodily pains and sufferings. Similarly, if one is devoted and faithful
to the spiritual master, he can conquer the influence of sattva-guna,
rajo-guna and tamo-guna very easily. Yogis and jnanis practice in many
ways to conquer the senses, but the bhakta immediately attains the
mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the mercy of the
spiritual master. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado **. If the spiritual
master is favorably inclined, one naturally receives the mercy of the
Supreme Lord, and by the mercy of the Supreme Lord one immediately
becomes transcendental, conquering all the influences of sattva-guna,
rajo-guna and tamo-guna within this material world. This is confirmed
in Bhagavad-Gita (sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg.
14.26]). If one is a pure devotee acting under the directions of the
guru, one easily gets the mercy of the Supreme Lord and thus becomes
immediately situated on the transcendental platform.


- Srila Prabhupada
(Explained by HH Romapada Swami)

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