Why is the goal (of Yoga, or even Vedanta generally) to become detached from material nature rather than attached to the best part of it? Why not just become sattvic or live as sattvic a life as is possible?
The goal is not attachment to Sattva because, although Sattva is the highest of the gunas, it is still a guna. Therefore, it is part of lower prakrti and not the ultimate goal of Yoga. The highest status one can attain by attaching to Sattva is being in the Celestial Realm, which is impermanent. If one attains life in that realm, he remains only for as long as his good karma lasts. "Full of desires, intent on heaven, They offer rebirth as the fruit of action... (II:43)." The one whose goal is heaven, and in effect attachment to Sattva, does not escape the cycle of rebirth. He finds only transient rest in heaven.
The goal of Yoga is escape from the cycle of rebirth to communion with God (Nirvana). To reinforce this distinction of Sattva from the true goal, Krishna says, "All this universe is deluded by the three states of being (the gunas), Composed of the qualities. It does not recognize Me, Who am higher then these, and eternal (VII:13)." Krishna transcends the three gunas, including Sattva, and the goal is devotion to Krishna.
I may be stating the obvious, but even though, as a Sattvic, you are doing good deeds for the glory of god, these deeds are still worldly offerings. Working for the welfare of the world is ultimately serving the world. The world is fleeting whereas becoming attached to God is everlasting. As a result, it would make sense that the goal would be to attach to something that is eternal rather than temporary. By attaching yourself to the temporary, although it may be good, you are really getting nowhere in the grand scheme of things.
The goal is not attachment to Sattva because, although Sattva is the highest of the gunas, it is still a guna. Therefore, it is part of lower prakrti and not the ultimate goal of Yoga. The highest status one can attain by attaching to Sattva is being in the Celestial Realm, which is impermanent. If one attains life in that realm, he remains only for as long as his good karma lasts. "Full of desires, intent on heaven, They offer rebirth as the fruit of action... (II:43)." The one whose goal is heaven, and in effect attachment to Sattva, does not escape the cycle of rebirth. He finds only transient rest in heaven.
ReplyDeleteThe goal of Yoga is escape from the cycle of rebirth to communion with God (Nirvana). To reinforce this distinction of Sattva from the true goal, Krishna says, "All this universe is deluded by the three states of being (the gunas), Composed of the qualities. It does not recognize Me, Who am higher then these, and eternal (VII:13)." Krishna transcends the three gunas, including Sattva, and the goal is devotion to Krishna.
I may be stating the obvious, but even though, as a Sattvic, you are doing good deeds for the glory of god, these deeds are still worldly offerings. Working for the welfare of the world is ultimately serving the world. The world is fleeting whereas becoming attached to God is everlasting. As a result, it would make sense that the goal would be to attach to something that is eternal rather than temporary. By attaching yourself to the temporary, although it may be good, you are really getting nowhere in the grand scheme of things.
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