If our attitude is determined by our modes, then how much can we change our attitude?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

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of the modes that we are in, then how much do we have the capacity to change our attitude? We always have the capacity to choose which mode we are influenced by.
That means, I may be more inclined to the mode of, say, passion than the mode of goodness. Or, I may be more inclined to the mode of ignorance than the mode of passion. But, we can choose.
In the 11th canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, there are many factors by which we can choose the mode influencing us. The books that we read, the people we associate with, the food that we eat, the kind of environment that we live in, the kind of mantras that we chant, the kind of samskaras that we do. Like that, 10 factors are given about how we can change the mode influencing us.
And, to a large extent, the process of Krishna Consciousness is about changing these factors. But, in the Bhagavatam, at that point, even materially, even if there is no Krishna involved, we can change those factors. There are some people who are alcoholics.
And, most people, when they become alcoholics, they just stay alcoholics lifelong. But, some people give up alcohol. The most important thing that they have to do is, they have to give up alcohol, change their association.
They are going to hang out with drunkards, they are going to be drunkards. So, giving up alcoholism may not be so easy. But, changing the association is relatively easier.
So, the externals that influence the internals, we can try to change that. And, by that, we can change the internals also. So, for example, if a car has a power steering, then if a young driver is there, we may not give them a car with power steering.
It is a simple steering. So, then, suddenly, a small, big change is not there. That means, we can try to regulate the externals a little bit.
So, for example, if my tendency is to, say, oversleep, then, what do I do with that? I may, not just keep an alarm, I may tell someone else to wake me up. And, I may create support systems for myself by which I can resist the motivation. So, if I am studying and I feel sleepy, now, I have options.
If I go out in the fresh air and I walk and then I read over there. That fresh air may rejuvenate me. I can continue reading.
That is choosing the mode of goodness. Now, if I say, come on, this is so boring. We just start looking at our messages.
We start surfing on the net. We start watching some TV. That is the mode of passion.
If I start feeling tired and I think, okay, you know, let me just go to my room. Let me lie on the bed. And, while lying on the bed, I will study.
What is going to happen? So, then, the externals affect the internals. Of course, sometimes we may be very tired and we may just need to sleep. It is different in different situations.
But, the important thing is that we can change the externals. And, for that, we can use our intelligence in advance planning. Okay, when this happens, I will do this.
So, we are controlled by material nature. But, we are not fully controlled by material nature. That means that for a soul who is in material consciousness, soul cannot just give up material things.
But, within material things, we can choose. I can choose the mode of goodness. I can choose the mode of passion.
We have to eat. But, somebody may be eating meat. Somebody may be eating very passionate food.
Somebody may be eating goodness food. We have choices. So, basically, we can say our free will is like we have unlimited freedom within a limited framework.
If a horse is tied to a pole, then, within the radius of that rope, the horse can move back, move ahead, go over there and eat the grass. The horse can do a lot in that framework. But, the horse can’t go out of that radius.
So, like that, we are controlled. But, within that control, we have freedom. So, by using whatever freedom we have properly, we can expand that freedom.
So, rather than saying this attitude is simply a product of my modes, I focus on what changes I can do within my situation. And, connecting with Krishna is extremely empowering. Because, connecting with Krishna gives us access to a power which is beyond the modes.
And, by that power, we can overpower the influence of the modes much, much, much faster.