# 17/F.A.C.E

### <mark style="color:blue;">In the previous chapter Krishna describes two extremes; the divine and the demoniac. Its clear, however, that each of us have many faces and are not necessarily one or the other. Life is never black or white, but usually different shades of grey. The faces that we present on a daily basis reveal something about our faith – the things we trust, pursue and place value upon. As they say, “What makes him tick?” Chapter Seventeen describes how a person’s affiliation to a particular mode will determine the type of faith they have.</mark>

## <mark style="color:blue;">**F**</mark>

[**Faith (1-13)** ](#user-content-fn-1)[^1]

Although religious people are often referred to as ‘people of faith,’ the reality is that everyone has faith. Without putting faith in traffic lights, doctors, and banks, to name but a few, could we function in this world? To have faith means to see opportunity, reward and value in something even though it may not be immediately verifiable. Thus, according to our faith, we identify objects of value and then engage with them in different ways. In accordance with this, individuals adopt their respective worldviews, lifestyles and character traits. Krishna begins a discussion of this, by giving examples of diet and sacrifices.

## <mark style="color:blue;">A</mark>

[**Austerities (14-19)** ](#user-content-fn-2)[^2]

In order to achieve anything in this world, one must undergo some austerity. We sacrifice immediate pleasure and comfort for the purpose of gain. People who place faith in different things, perform different austerities in life. Krishna explains beneficial austerities pertaining to the body, mind and words, and also the varying motivations with which one may perform them.

## <mark style="color:blue;">C</mark>

[**Charity (20-22)** ](#user-content-fn-3)[^3]

The innate quality of the soul is to serve and thus we find a charitable disposition within everyone to a greater or lesser extent. According to one’s own faith, they make efforts to help others. Krishna discusses the different types of charity and explains that to truly benefit people, charity must be performed within certain parameters. Charity should be given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person. The ultimate charity, however, is to help someone reawaken their spirituality - this will permanently solve all their problems.

## <mark style="color:blue;">**E**</mark>

[**Enjoyer of Everything (23-28)**](#user-content-fn-4)[^4]

Throughout this chapter Krishna discusses all His themes with reference to the modes of nature. It is essential to understand that all activities, even those performed in Goodness, will always yield karmic reactions to the performer and thus bind him to repeated existence in this world. There is a way out. In Vedic hymns, God is defined as the supreme enjoyer by the three words “om tat sat.” Thus, if our sacrifices, penance, and austerities are dedicated to the Supreme, done for His pleasure and favour, then such activities yield permanent benefit and ultimate freedom. Such activities transcend the three modes of material nature and are liberating rather than entangling.

> ### *<mark style="color:blue;">“YOU WERE BORN ORIGINAL - DON’T DIE A COPY.”</mark>* *<mark style="color:blue;">\~ UNKNOWN</mark>*

[^1]: **Bg. 17.1 - 17.9**

    **Source:** [**Vedabase**](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/)

    [TEXT 1:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/1/) Arjuna inquired: O Kṛṣṇa, what is the situation of those who do not follow the principles of scripture but worship according to their own imagination? Are they in goodness, in passion or in ignorance?

    [TEXT 2:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/2/) The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: According to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one’s faith can be of three kinds – in goodness, in passion or in ignorance. Now hear about this.

    [TEXT 3:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/3/) O son of Bharata, according to one’s existence under the various modes of nature, one evolves a particular kind of faith. The living being is said to be of a particular faith according to the modes he has acquired.

    [TEXT 4:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/4/) Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods; those in the mode of passion worship the demons; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.

    [TEXTS 5-6:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/5-6/) Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment, who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body as well as the Supersoul dwelling within, are to be known as demons.

    [TEXT 7:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/7/) Even the food each person prefers is of three kinds, according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity. Now hear of the distinctions between them.

[^2]: **Bg. 17.14 - 17.19**

    **Source:** [**Vedabase**](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/)

    [TEXT 14:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/14/) Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the brāhmaṇas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence.

    [TEXT 15:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/15/) Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature.

    [TEXT 16:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/16/) And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one’s existence are the austerities of the mind.

    [TEXT 17:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/17/) This threefold austerity, performed with transcendental faith by men not expecting material benefits but engaged only for the sake of the Supreme, is called austerity in goodness.

    [TEXT 18:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/18/) Penance performed out of pride and for the sake of gaining respect, honor and worship is said to be in the mode of passion. It is neither stable nor permanent.

    [TEXT 19:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/19/) Penance performed out of foolishness, with self-torture or to destroy or injure others, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

[^3]: **Bg. 17.20 - 17.22**

    **Source:** [**Vedabase**](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/)

    [TEXT 20:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/20/) Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness.

    [TEXT 21:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/21/) But charity performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood is said to be charity in the mode of passion.

    [TEXT 22:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/22/) And charity performed at an impure place, at an improper time, to unworthy persons, or without proper attention and respect is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

[^4]: **Bg. 17.23 - 17.28**

    **Source:** [**Vedabase**](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/)

    [TEXT 23:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/23/) From the beginning of creation, the three words oṁ tat sat were used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic representations were used by brāhmaṇas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Supreme.

    [TEXT 24:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/24/) Therefore, transcendentalists undertaking performances of sacrifice, charity and penance in accordance with scriptural regulations begin always with oṁ, to attain the Supreme.

    [T](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/25/)[EXT 25:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/25/) Without desiring fruitive results, one should perform various kinds of sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free from material entanglement.

    [TEXTS 26-27:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/26-27/) The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word sat. The performer of such sacrifice is also called sat, as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Pṛthā.

    [TEXT 28:](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/17/28/) Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the Supreme, O son of Pṛthā, is impermanent. It is called asat and is useless both in this life and the next