The Bewildering Influence of Material Nature

Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the influence of material nature as an insurmountable force that binds the living entity to the cycle of birth and death. While the soul is naturally spiritual and independent, its contact with the three modes of nature creates a state of bewilderment and false identification with the temporary material body.

Forced Conditioning Under the Three Modes

As long as a living entity remains in the material world, he is subjected to the various mixtures of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, and tamo-guṇa. These modes dictate the atmosphere of the planets, the types of bodies awarded, and the specific psychological drives that force a person to act in certain ways. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that this conditioning is so pervasive that each living entity works under the strict arrangement of nature.

• As long as one is in the material world, he has to be under the influence of the modes of material nature (guna-visarga). It is not that Maharaja Priyavrata was freed from material influence because he possessed all material opulences.
• Every conditioned soul is influenced by a particular mixture of the modes of material nature. The conditioned soul is attracted to certain types of activity which he is forced to perform because he is completely under the influence of material nature.
• All the planets in the universe are situated according to the different grades of living entities under the influence of the modes of material nature.
• As bubbles in the water appear in different shapes, the living entities also appear in the material world in different shapes and conditions, influenced by the modes of material nature.

The Illusion of Independent Doing

The most profound effect of māyā is the false ego, which leads the soul to believe it is the independent master and doer of its activities. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites Bhagavad-gītā to emphasize that while the soul is passive, the modes of nature are the actual performers of all material work. This bewilderment is the root cause of the soul's entanglement in the material world.

• BG 3.27: "The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature." The living entities work only under the direction of the Supreme Lord.
• Actually, the living entity, or soul, does not do anything; everything is done under the influence of the modes of material nature.
• Karta means the proprietor or the master. One is not actually master, but under the influence of different modes of material nature he is feeling, "I am master. I am enjoyer. I am bhokta." This is the trouble.
• The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.

Biological and Psychological Impact

The influence of material nature manifests through the physical body and the subtle mind, forcing the living entity into specific roles and species. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the covering is so strong that the living entity identifies with its body with great pleasure, regardless of how degraded that body may be. This conditioning determines the biological construction necessary to inhabit different environments.

• Every living entity under the influence of material nature has a particular type of body and a particular type of psychological and biological activities accordingly.
• Under the influence of illusory material energy, we accept this spot-life of only a few years as our permanent existence and thus become illusioned by possessing so-called country, home, land, children, wife, community, wealth, etc.
• The material body itself indicates that the living entity is already influenced by the three modes of material nature and that he is driven to enjoy material resources. When the body is influenced by the mode of ignorance, its infection becomes very acute.
• The covering influence of material nature is so strong that the living entity is satisfied in whatever body he gets, and he identifies with that body with great pleasure.

Divine Transcendence of the Supreme Lord

Unlike the conditioned souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the absolute master of material nature and is never subject to its laws. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the Lord’s appearance, birth, and activities are entirely transcendental and unaffected by the modes. This is a primary distinction between the infinitesimal living entity and the infinite Supreme Lord.

• Because of His (the Supreme Lord) full knowledge, He is never subjected to the influence of material nature.
• It is repeatedly said in the Katha Upanisad that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is never affected by the influence of material nature.
• The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master of the material nature (mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sacaracaram (BG 9.10)). Therefore, being the supreme controller of the laws of nature, the Lord cannot be under their influence.
• Varuna said, "There is no possibility of imposing the influence of material nature upon You (Krsna). I am very sorry that my foolish man, by not knowing what to do or what not to do, has mistakenly arrested Your father, Nanda Maharaja."

Neutralizing the Modes Through Devotional Service

The laws of material nature are insurmountable for anyone trying to overcome them by mental speculation or independent effort. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that by surrendering to Kṛṣṇa and engaging in devotional service, the influence of the modes becomes slackened and eventually ceases. Devotional service elevates the soul to the transcendental platform where nature's influence is no longer felt.

• Anyone who surrenders unto Him can overcome the influence of the stringent laws of material nature.
• Lord Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "The influence of the material nature is insurmountable, but anyone who surrenders unto Me can verily overcome the influence of material nature."
• The influence of material nature is very difficult to surpass, but as stated by Krsna in Bhagavad-gita (7.14), mam eva ye prapadyante, mayam etam taranti te: if one voluntarily submits to the lotus feet of Krsna, he can be saved very easily.
• A person engaged in Krsna consciousness is at once liberated from the influence of the three modes of material nature.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda illustrates that the influence of material nature is a pervasive force that conditions and bewilders every soul within the material world. By identifying with the three modes, the soul loses its spiritual freedom and assumes the false role of an independent doer. This entanglement leads to the continuous cycle of birth and death in various species of life. However, this bewildering influence can be completely neutralized through the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By surrendering to the Supreme Lord, the living entity is elevated beyond the reach of the material modes, attaining a state of pure consciousness and eternal association with the Lord.

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