Anything which can be done in an hour they drag on for years

[Guest guest]

Chapter 18.

Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation

 

TEXT 28

 

ayuktah prakrtah stabdhah

satho naiskrtiko 'lasah

visadi dirgha-sutri ca

karta tamasa ucyate

 

SYNONYMS

 

ayuktah--without reference to scriptural injunctions; prakrtah--materialistic; stabdhah--obstinate; sathah--deceitful; naiskrtikah--expert in insulting others; alasah--lazy; visadi--morose; dirgha-sutri--procrastinating; ca--also; karta--worker; tamasah--in the mode of ignorance; ucyate--is said to be.

TRANSLATION

 

And that worker who is always engaged in work against the injunction of the scripture, who is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in insulting others, who is lazy, always morose and procrastinating, is a worker in the mode of ignorance.

PURPORT

 

In the scriptural injunctions we find what sort of work should be performed and what sort of work should not be performed. Those who do not care for those injunctions engage in work not to be done, and such persons are generally materialistic. They work according to the modes of nature, not according to the injunctions of the scripture. Such workers are not very gentle, and generally they are always cunning and expert in insulting others. They are very lazy; even though they have some duty, they do not do it properly, and they put it aside to be done later on. Therefore they appear to be morose. They procrastinate; anything which can be done in an hour they drag on for years . Such workers are situated in the mode of ignorance.

 

Now this is me ,

I can reaally see myself here

in this verse and purport

I can become Conscious in an hour

but I procrastinate

drag it on for years

Deep in the lower mode of tamo-guna /images/graemlins/confused.gif /images/graemlins/confused.gif /images/graemlins/confused.gif /images/graemlins/confused.gif /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Priitaa]

You sure hit the nail on the head with this post! I could write volums on this topic, which is why I will end here. /images/graemlins/smile.gif Thanks.

[Govindaram]

Hare KrishnaVedic Personality Inventory

 

This test was designed by Dhira Govinda das, the Director of ISKCON Office for Child protection (Alachua, Florida).

 

You can check which guna predominates your habits.

 

 

--

 

*Scoring key is at the bottom

 

Underline the number under each statement which corresponds the statement about you.

 

1 Very Strongly Disagree

2 Strongly Disagree

3 Somewhat Disagree

4 Neutral

5 Somewhat Agree

6 Strongly Agree

7 Very Strongly Agree

 

1. I am straightforward in my dealings with other people.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

2. I have very little interest in spiritual understanding.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

3. I am satisfied with my life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

4. Fruits and vegetables are among my favorite foods.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

5. All living entities are essentially spiritual.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

6. In conducting my activities, I do not consider traditional wisdom.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

7. I often act without considering the future consequences of my actions.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

8. I usually feel discontented with life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

9. I become happy when I think about the material assets that I possess.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

10. I am good at using willpower to achieve goals.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

11. I enjoy spending time in bars.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

12. Cleanliness is very important to me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

13. Others say that my intelligence is very sharp.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

14. I often feel depressed.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

15. I often put off or delay my responsibilities.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

16. I greatly admire materially successful people.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

17. When I speak, I really try not to irritate others.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

18. I believe life is over when the body dies.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

19. I often feel helpless.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

20. I enjoy foods with strong tastes.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

21. I am constantly dissatisfied with my position in life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

22. Having possessions is very important to me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

23. When things are tough, I often bail out.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

24. I often feel like a victim.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

25. I feel that my knowledge is always increasing.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

26. I prefer city night life to a walk in the forest.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

27. For me, sex life is a major source of happiness.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

28. I take guidance from higher ethical and moral laws before I act.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

29. I enjoy intoxicating substances

(including coffee, cigarettes and alcohol).

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

30. I often feel greedy.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

31. I become greatly distressed when things don’t work out for me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

32. I am often angry.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

33. I often feel fearful.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

34. I do not have doubts about my responsibilities in life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

35. I often feel emotionally unbalanced.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

36. I enjoy eating meat.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

37. I am self-controlled.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

38. I am very dutiful.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

39. When I give charity, I often do it grudgingly.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

40. Self-realization is not important for me.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

41. I often feel grudgingly.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

42. I carry out my responsibilities regardless of whether there is success or failure.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

43. I often neglect my responsibilities to my family.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

44. I am easily affected by the joys and sorrows of life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

45. I often whine.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

46. Regardless of what I acquire or achieve, I have an uncontrollable desire to obtain more.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

47. I am currently struggling with an addiction, physical or psychological, to some type of intoxicant (including caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol).

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

48. I often envy others.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

49. My job is a source of anxiety.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

50. I never think about giving up my wealth and position for a simpler life.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

51. It often happens that those things that brought me happiness later become the source of my suffering.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

52. I often feel mentally unbalanced.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

53. I don’t have much will power.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

54. I often neglect my responsibilities to my friends.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

55. I often act violently towards others.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

56. I am good at controlling my senses and emotions.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

 

SCORING KEY FOR VPI

 

Instruction: Add up the numbered responses for all the items for a particular guna. Then divide the guna raw score by the total possible score for that guna (number of items in the guna subscale multiplied by 7) and multiply by 100. This will give the percentage score for that guna. Do this for all 3 gunas and you will see what guna is predominant in your life.

 

Numbers for statements corresponding each guna:

 

Sattva

1,3,4,5,10,12,13,17,25,28,34,37,38,42,56.

Rajas

8,9,16,18,20,21,22,23,26,27,30,31,39,44,46,48,49,50,51.

Tamas

2,6,7,11,14,15,19,24,29,33,32,35,36,40,41,43,45,47,52,53,54,55

 

Ps. Please don't ask me how to do it, it took me ages to figure it out the first time around, since then I can't remember how (a bit like algebra /images/graemlins/mad.gif), I did the test a long time ago...

 

 

-------

<font color="red"> nitai-gauranga, nitai-gauranga </font color>

<font color="red"> jayasacinandana, gaura-hari </font color>

 

<font color="blue"> All glories to Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya!

</font color> <font color="blue"> the son of Saci-devi, who is Krsna Himself in golden hue.

</font color>

 

 

 

[Priitaa]

This is an interesting test, and helpful, but I'm not so sure that answers which come in the form of numbers are always the best way to go, or that the test would work for devotees often enough. For example:

 

" 6. In conducting my activities, I do not consider traditional wisdom."

 

Much of what Prabhupada taught us is contradictory to traditional 'wisdom.' Such as, giving women gayatri and thread and making them priests, and there is more.

 

or

 

"21. I am constantly dissatisfied with my position in life."

 

Those who chant Hare Krishna, this mantrra also means to have all material happiness taken away. So it is not uncommon to find very good natured devotees who are very unhappy with their position in life, which has less to do with materialism and more to do with the touch of Krishna's, or Srimati Radharani's hand in their life.

 

"1. I am straightforward in my dealings with other people."

 

Many devotees have long ago learned, due to either religious prejudice, things that happened out on sankirtana, or even with other deovtees who were not so honest, that when dealing with a dishonest person, do not reveal your mind!

 

"10. I am good at using willpower to achieve goals."

 

And we know many a temple president or other 'authority' who did so! hehe

 

 

However, other points could certianly help devotees:

 

"8. I usually feel discontented with life."

 

Alot of devotees feel this way. For some, it can be impersonalism (especially temple devotees, tho its not that if one is a temple devotee they 'must' be acting this way. No.) Others just have emotional issues they never looked at and often dont want to, but its stemming over into their daily life and they dont know why life is so unworkable. This does not make them a bad devotee, just bad at relationships.

 

"23. When things are tough, I often bail out."

 

This is a common problem, from temple authorities to relationships.

 

"33. I often feel fearful."

 

Many devotees experience fear when they are in maya. In that case, this would be a good thing, as long as its not immobolizing or damaging.

 

"55. I often act violently towards others."

 

Now thats a big one devotees should start looking at. Especially with all the woman and child abuse, but men also abuse men! Or bully them, rank and pecking order. I remember one 'teacher' from another country who came to america, was not getting along with this Indian young man, and he hated him so much he physically attacked him! So it goes on with men too. We need to turn inward and start asking 'why the violence?' Of course, I know, and you probably know, but when a person is violent, they generally are oblivious at the time.

 

I didn't mean to tear all you wrote apart and was just haivng a little fun. /images/graemlins/smile.gif I think its a good test in general. Just some things fit the devotee, and others don't.

 

[I_love_krishna_]

So! it does not really tell what sort of person you are... but it does tell what sort of person you think you are!

 

/images/graemlins/smile.gif !

 

 

Thanks that just makes me feel better.

 

If I get a low score - that would mean that I have very low self esteem.

 

If I get a normal score- that would mean I am honest. (rajas)

 

If I get a high score- that would mean I am full of my self.

-----------------------

This test is only valid of another person who knows me better takes this test. Unfortunately, no one can be like that except krishna.

 

The valid conclusion would be Krishna is the only person who is going to give you an accurate answer...

 

But can't he do this with out taking the test? so this test is basically to fool ourselves! /images/graemlins/grin.gif Or we have nothing better to do (tamasic guna) so we take this test.

 

But it is a very nice way to fool ourselves though.

[Gauracandra]

Does anyone know of a person who has actually positively changed their mode (goodness, passion, ignorance) in a major way? I kind of think the modes must be somewhat genetic as well as environmental (if you are raised bad, you will likely turn out bad). But a lot of people who are in the mode of goodness just seem like they were born that way, and their kids are that way etc....

[Guest guest]

STOP & THINK!

Draw Out YOUR Inner Wisdom

Chant Hare Krishna

**************************************************

 

"The greatest amount of wasted time is the time

not getting started." -- Dawson Trotman

 

*** QUESTION YOUR LIFE ***

Read Bhagavad Gita As It Is

 

What are you procrastinating?

 

*** COACH'S TIP ***

 

Procrastination seriously drains our energy and our

morale. What lies undone nags at us. Look at what

you’re avoiding.

"Am I avoiding to really surrender to Sri Guru ?"

 

Does it really need to be done? Can you delegate it?

Can you reschedule it into the future?

Or maybe it’s time to just DO IT!

 

As Srila Prabhupada would say, "What is the difficulty?"

 

On a deeper level, what are you afraid of? There is

often an underlying fear.

 

*** INSPIRATION ***

 

"How soon not now, becomes never." -- Martin Luther

 

Get control. Bust emotional blocks. Develop your mind. Connect

with the divine. Manifest abundance.Chant Hare Krishna Now!

[Govindaram]

Hare Krishna

 

I find the whole subject of the modes of material nature interesting, but what you say about being 'born that way' seems to be true, most people i.e. are generally very happy go-lucky people and yet some are more shy, introvert, so the modes of nature must be acting differently on these person(s), but its impossible to change you modes without puting so effort into it.

 

Ps that test was just for fun (Priita & I_L_K) /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

 

-------

<font color="red"> nitai-gauranga, nitai-gauranga </font color>

<font color="red"> jayasacinandana, gaura-hari </font color>

 

<font color="blue"> All glories to Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya!

</font color> <font color="blue"> the son of Saci-devi, who is Krsna Himself in golden hue.

</font color>

 

 

 

[I_love_krishna_]

My grandfather was one of the people who changed his mode.

 

He was basically a normal "hindu" at that time, who had no Job and was subject to discrimination by the Nizami Muslim Government, when Indians got their Independence, the Nizams fell.

 

He then knew that the only way to change the people's poverty is bring these issues to the government, the best way to do that was Media.

 

He was a poor(no money) guy , he worked hard by working on multiple jobs and became a Journalist. He changed the villages by reporting about them to the general public.

 

Politicians can't ignore the issues brought on by media. he is now a famous journalist in India who was also the editor of Eenadu and other papers....

 

I know he is self situated because, even though he does not express his Bhakthi about Krishna, his humility, his wiseness and his intellect tell me that he is truly self situated.

 

He talks about Gita though... and explains how it could be used to become peaceful at ease...

-------------------------

So prabhu, I think you can change your Mode from the Mode of Ignorance to the Mode of Satvism. It can be done.

 

My mother's father did it and so can I and any one else...