An interesting apparent contradiction

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> In scriptural exegesis, if the direct meaning of a term appears

> contradictory or meaningless, then the meaning intended by it has to be

> deduced from the context (C.f. SB 10.87.1 purport).

>

> In this case therefore, I understand that the description of a worker in

> the mode of goodness as "mukta-sangah", i.e. without association with the

> modes of material nature, means that his tendency is towards suddha-sattva

> and that he endeavors for that. A person in the mode of goodness strives

> for transcendence.

 

But this is not necessarily the case. You can have people in the mode of

goodness who are not striving for transcendence (as confirmed by SP in the

following quote from Bg 14.7p). And since the verse under discussion is a

definition, we would expect an all-encompassing description.

 

"The difficulty here is that when a living entity is situated in the mode of

goodness he becomes conditioned to feel that he is advanced in knowledge and

is better than others. In this way he becomes conditioned. The best examples

are the scientist and the philosopher. Each is very proud of his knowledge,

and because they generally improve their living conditions, they feel a sort

of material happiness. This sense of advanced happiness in conditioned life

makes them bound by the mode of goodness of material nature. As such, they

are attracted toward working in the mode of goodness, and, as long as they

have an attraction for working in that way, they have to take some type of

body in the modes of nature. Thus there is no likelihood of liberation, or

of being transferred to the spiritual world. Repeatedly one may become a

philosopher, a scientist or a poet, and repeatedly become entangled in the

same disadvantages of birth and death. But, due to the illusion of the

material energy, one thinks that that sort of life is pleasant."

 

> The mode of goodness is close to and similar to the

> transcendental position, and as much as a worker in the mode of goodness

> becomes free of the lower modes, that much closer he moves towards

> transcendence.

 

So mukta-sanga really means free from the association of the lower modes.

 

Your servant,

Ramesvar Das.