entangled by the modes of nature (gunas), you forget the reality of 'Satya' (truth)
When you are entangled by the modes of nature (gunas), you forget the reality of 'Satya' (truth). The allure of sensual pleasures and the confusion of multiple identities further entrap you, leading to a deeper entanglement in the complex web of body and mind. Adi Shankara elucidates this in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita: "अविद्या समुपास्यते बुद्धिरात्मनो व्यामोहं गच्छति" (Due to ignorance, the intellect is deluded and misled). It is the Guru who acts as the remover of knots, offering relief from this entanglement, as Shankara points out, "गुरुं विनाऽध्यात्मविद्या न सिद्ध्यति" (Without a Guru, knowledge of the self does not arise).
To be entangled means to be deeply involved in something that complicates and restricts your freedom, much like being caught in a net. For example, a person addicted to wealth and material possessions becomes so engrossed in maintaining and increasing their assets that they lose sight of higher spiritual truths. Once liberated, one can embark on the path of Navadha Bhakti (ninefold devotion), progressing spiritually. When under the influence of the modes, there is no time to pursue the great beyond (param avyayam), as the immediate focus is on catering to the demands of the senses.
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