Can nature change?

[Guest guest]

>

> > Does this mean one's *material* mode of nature will change?

>

> The word svabhava refers to one's own spiritual nature or original

> constitutional position. When situated in this original position, the

> living entity is unaffected by the modes of material nature. Sa gunan

> samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate (Bg. 14.26). As soon as one is freed

> from the influence of the three modes of material nature, he is situated

> on the Brahman platform. Vivid examples of personalities thus situated are

> the four Kumaras and Narada. Such authorities 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. In Bhagavad-gita (2.45), therefore, Krsna advises Arjuna,

> traigunya-visaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna: one must rise above the

> influence of the three modes of material nature. One who stays within the

> influence of the three material modes is unable to understand the Supreme

> Personality of Godhead. SB 9.8.23

 

Thank you. My conclusion is therefore that one's material nature

(sva-dharma) "is ordained by the Lord" and does *not* change (see BG 2.31

purport). This view is confirmed in the purport to BG 4.13 where Srila

Prabhupada says: "The tendency of a particular man toward work is determined

by the modes of material nature he has acquired".

 

Still, an argument for change: Lord Caitanya told an astrologer that His

birth as a brahmana was due to His being a dutiful vaisya in His previous

life. Mahaprabhu's facetious statement seems to indicate that if there is a

gradual change of material mode, it concurs with the change of body. Please

correct me if I am wrong.

 

Your servant,

Yogindra dasa