Purpose of life
the mode of goodness has the nine gates illuminated with transcendental knowledge.”
Beyond Goodness Now the question is whether the mode of goodness is the ultimate standard that we have to achieve. Is it the highest? No, the mode of goodness is not the highest or the ultimate standard. Lord Kåñëa says in the Bhagavad-gétä: trai-guëya-viñayä vedä nistrai-guëyo bhavärjuna nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-kñema ätmavän (Bhagavad-gétä 2.45)
“The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the three modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these three modes. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self.”
What is beyond the mode of goodness? Pure goodness. Pure goodness is known as çuddha-sattva. Why does Kåñëa tell Arjuna to go beyond the mode of goodness? This is explained in the Bhagavad-gétä — as long as one is in the mode of goodness, there is always competition going on between different modes. Sometimes the mode of goodness may win, sometimes the mode of passion may win, and sometimes the mode of ignorance may win. In India, you may find people who recite prayers, mantras and perform yajïas for two to three hours every day. But one can see the same people in the evening, drinking and doing other
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