Are desires the cause of the modes or the modes the cause of desires?

From: Amit More

Is desire the cause of Modes or Modes is the Cause of desire?

Thank you.
Hare Krishna. Question by Amit Mori. Is desire the cause of the moods or are the moods the cause of desire? Answer.
The process is cyclic, with both of them causing each other. But ultimately, it is our desire that is the initiating cause. And it is our desire that will be the terminating cause.
In chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord describes the three modes of material nature extensively, analyzing the characteristics of goodness, passion and ignorance. Before that, in 13.22, which is a key verse that describes how the soul gets entangled into material nature, into three modes, Lord Krishna says how one’s desire to enjoy is the primary cause of this entanglement. PURUSHAH PRAKRITI STHOHI BHUNGTE PRAKRITI JANGUNAN KARANAM GUNA SANGOSYA SADASAD YONI JANMASUM So the Lord is saying in 13.22 here, PURUSHAH PRAKRITI STHOHI the soul becomes situated in material nature.
BHUNGTE because of the desire to enjoy. PRAKRITI JANGUNAN So the modes, which are the products of Prakriti, PRAKRITI JANGUNAN and KARANAM GUNA SANGOSYA, because of this contact with the modes, SADASAD YONI JANMASUM, the soul meets good and bad within them, various species. So our entanglement in this world begins with our desire to enjoy this world.
Now, once we start desiring to enjoy and get attracted to the sense objects, then the sense objects, which are the products of the three modes ultimately, just as the various images that we may see on a television are the products of the three basic colors. Similarly, all sense objects are the products of the three basic modes. So now, we start watching the TV by turning on the button.
Like that, it is we who originally get into the material world by our desire to enjoy. But once the TV starts, the TV, depending on whatever is being depicted on it, starts kindling various kinds of desires within us. So if there is a commercial going on, we might get attracted to the product that is offered.
If there is a sexually alluring song, it might stimulate that kind of desire within us. If we see a serial which shows people with huge amount of wealth, it might stimulate greed within us. Similarly, once we get situated within the realm of material nature, depending on the kind of mode that we are influenced by, it will kindle that kind of desire.
So, if on afternoon, after a heavy lunch, we go in a dark or underlit room where everyone else is sleeping, and sit down over there, naturally that environment will kindle the mode of ignorance, and that mode of ignorance will kindle the desire to go to sleep. But if we go to a place where everybody is busy and working, you know, I also have to work. So this way, the modes also stimulate desires within us.
But then, I have used the word kindle or stimulate. This indicates that ultimately, the choosing is done by us. The modes basically provide alternatives, and often tempting alternatives at that.
But it is we who choose those alternatives. The modes impel us, because they don’t compel us. Impel means to push, compel means to force.
And the difference between the two is that when there is a push, we can counter-push. But when there is a force, we are overpowered. So the modes never overpower us.
The modes only push us. And we can counter-push based on our willpower, our determination, and especially our taking shelter of Krishna. So in 14.26, Lord Krishna says, Those who take shelter of my devotional service, undeviatingly, they can cross beyond the influence of the modes.
So, here, this verse indicates that it is again up to us to desire to terminate the influence of the modes, to transcend the influence of the modes. So, the modes will only create material desires within us, but the association of devotees who are trying to have spiritual desires, or who have spiritual desires, they will kindle spiritual desires within us. And if we can make that spiritual desire strong using our intelligence and sustained association, then we can go beyond the modes.
So to summarize, first, our desire is the cause of being influenced by the modes. Then, subsequently, the modes keep stimulating varieties of desires within us, which keep entangling us within the modes. But, ultimately, we can also, via our desire, go beyond the influence of the modes.