26 THE PATH OF PERFECTION | Learning How to See God 27
Jjitatmanah prasantasya Book knowledge without realization of the Supreme Truth is
paramatma samahitah useless. This is stated as follows:
Sitosna-sukha-duhkhesu
tatha manapamanayoh atah sri-krsna-namadi
na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
‘‘For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already sevonmukhe hi jihvadau
reached, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man happiness svayam eva sphuraty adah
and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.”’
(Bg. 6.7) **No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name,
Actually, every living entity is intended to abide by the dicta- form, quality, and pastimes of Sri Krsna through his materially
tion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated in contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually satu-
everyone’s heart as Paramatma. When the mind is misled by the rated by transcendental service to the Lord are the transcendental
external illusory energy, one becomes entangled in material ac- name, form, quality, and pastimes of the Lord revealed to him.”’
tivities. Therefore, as soon as one’s mind is controlled through (Padma Purana)
one of the yoga systems, one is to be considered as having already There are men in the modes of goodness, passion, and ig-
reached the destination. One has to abide by superior dictation. norance, and to reclaim all these conditioned souls, there are eigh-
When the mind is fixed on the superior nature, he has no al- teen Puranas. Six Purdnas are meant for those in the mode of
ternative but to follow the dictation of the Supreme. The mind goodness, six for those in the mode of passion, and six for those in
must admit some superior dictation and follow it. When the mind the mode of ignorance. The Padma Purana is written for those in
is controlled, one automatically follows the dictation of the the mode of goodness. Because there are many different types of
Paramatma, or Supersoul. Because this transcendental position is men, there are many different Vedic rituals. In the Vedic
at once achieved by one who is in Krsna consciousness, the devo- literatures there are descriptions of rituals and ceremonies in
tee of the Lord is unaffected by the dualities of material exis- which a goat may be sacrificed in the presence of the goddess Kali.
tence—distress and happiness, cold and heat, etc. This state is This is described in the Markandeya Purana, but this Purana is-
called samadhi, or absorption in the Supreme. meant for the instruction of those in the mode of ignorance.
It is very difficult for one to give up his attachments all at once.
Jjiiana-vijfiana-trptatma If one is addicted to meat-eating and is suddenly told that he must
kuta-stho vijitendriyah = not eat meat, he cannot do so. If one is attached to drinking liquor
yukta ity ucyate yogi and is suddenly told that liquor is no good, he cannot accept this
sama-lostrasma-kaficanah advice. Therefore, in the Purdnas we find certain instructions that
say in essence, ‘‘All right, if you want to eat meat, just worship the
‘*A person is said to be established in self-realization and is called goddess Kali and sacrifice a goat for her. Only then can you eat
a yogi [or mystic] when he is fully satisfied by virtue of acquired meat. You cannot eat meat just by purchasing it from the butcher
knowledge and realization. Such a person is situated in transcen- shop. No, there must be sacrifice or restriction.”’ In order to
dence and is self-controlled. He sees everything—whether it be sacrifice a goat to the goddess Kali, one must make arrangements
pebbles, stones, or gold—as the same.”” (Bg. 6.8) for a certain date and utilize certain paraphernalia. That type of
