204. Two types of Death




Krishna says, “When a wise person perceives that there is no agent of action other than the three gunas (modes of nature), and realises ‘That’ which is higher than the gunas, he attains My Being (14.19). By transcending the three gunas (guna-atheeth), one (dehi) is released from birth, death, old age and misery; and attains immortality” (14.20). Essentially, the three gunas are the agents of action or real karta (doer) and we attain moksha when we transcend them.

One way to understand death is as the separation of the atma from the physical body when the body can’t sustain automaticity for numerous reasons. Subsequently, the immortal atma goes to another body and the cycle continues. This leads to the belief that inexplicable bad phases of our life are a result of the bad karma, sins or curses of previous lives and good phases are noble deeds (punyas) of previous lives. Spiritual texts are also interpreted accordingly.

The second type of death is the separation of atma from the physical body while the body is still capable and functional. This is called moksha (ultimate freedom) or enlightenment. This is the state where gunas no longer have the ability to bind the atma to the physical body. Krishna describes this state as transcending gunas and says such people attain His Being. They are free from misery and are immortal.

These verses clarify that no guna is inferior or superior. They are modes of nature with different characteristics but all of them bind atma with the body. The essence is to transcend all the gunas. Being guna-atheeth is being healthy whereas being under the influence of any guna is like suffering from a disease.

Another inference is that one can transcend from any guna to the state of guna-atheeth. There is no hierarchy amongst the gunas hence there is no need for us to follow a sequence.


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