When the modes interrupt our bhakti practice, how can uninterrupted bhakti practice take us beyond the modes?

Answer Podcast

So that’s how this inner tension plays out within us.

Through bhakti, we can become uninterrupted in our spiritual practice and thereby transcend the modes. However, it is often these very modes that prevent us from practicing bhakti consistently. So, where do we begin?

Is Scriptural Study Necessary, or Will Bhakti Give Rise to Knowledge?

This brings us to the question: Is it necessary to study scripture to gain knowledge, or will bhakti itself give rise to it?
We discussed in an earlier session that spirituality doesn’t have to be black and white—it isn’t digital, like a one or zero. It can be analog.

What does “analog” mean here? It means there’s a range.
For example, when Krishna says “Practice bhakti uninterruptedly”, what does that mean? For some, it may mean remembering Krishna 24 hours a day. For others, it may mean daily remembrance during sadhana. That too is a connection—just on a different level.

Whatever level we are at, let us be uninterrupted at that level. Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita 14.26 that one who serves Him with unalloyed devotion rises above the modes. But this “unalloyed” or “uninterrupted” service can manifest in various intensities.

Uninterrupted Bhakti in Gradual Progression

Take, for example, a recovering alcoholic. One person might not even glance at a bar. Another might pass by a bar but not enter. A third might go to a place where others are drinking but resist the temptation. And someone else might struggle even more but still try. If they fall and take a drink, that’s a break.
Sure, the ideal is not even noticing the temptation, but if we set the standard too high initially, it can feel discouraging.

So, when we talk about uninterrupted devotion, the key is:
Whatever level we are at, stay steady at that level. Over time, that level will rise.

Where Do We Begin?

The answer is: Start wherever you are.
The operational principle of bhakti is:
“Somehow or the other, fix the mind on Krishna.”
Even if we are too influenced by the modes to do much, we can still set aside some time to connect with Krishna—whether through chanting, reading, or serving.

Ideally, we may want to spend every spare moment engaged in Krishna consciousness. But even if we can’t do that, we can set a daily commitment—like fixed sadhana—and be consistent in that.

What About Those Who Fall or Falter?

In Bhagavad-gita 9.30–31, Krishna speaks of those who, despite doing something seriously wrong, are still considered saintly if they continue to worship Him with undivided devotion.
But what does that mean? How can someone worship Krishna undividedly while doing wrong?

Here, “Ananya-bhak” (undivided devotion) is understood not in terms of perfect external behavior, but in terms of steadfast inner intention.
Even if someone stumbles, they don’t give up on Krishna. They don’t think, “Bhakti isn’t working. Let me give it up.” Instead, they persevere in their connection to Krishna.

This unbreakable devotional intention, despite imperfections, is glorious in Krishna’s eyes.

So again, uninterrupted devotion means staying connected at the level we are capable of. Just as someone who is physically weak is told to exercise to gain strength, they’re also told to start with whatever movement they can do, however small. If their hand is fractured, even lifting fingers five times a day is a form of exercise—and if done daily, it’s uninterrupted at that level.

Personal Investment Helps Us Transcend Modes

This idea of uninterruptedness also ties to personal investment.
Everyone is affected by the modes. But when there is personal connection, we rise above their pull.

Think of a mother caring for her child. She may be extremely tired, overcome by the mode of ignorance, but if her baby cries, she wakes up and cares for it. That’s not just discipline—that’s personal investment. There’s love, responsibility, and identity in that relationship.

Similarly, when we become personally invested in Krishna, our connection lifts us above the modes.
We may not feel deeply connected to Krishna yet, but as we continue practicing, our relationship deepens, and gradually, we become more and more steady and unaffected.

Conclusion
Yes, the modes pull us down. Yes, bhakti asks us to rise up. But the path of bhakti is merciful and personal.

• Start wherever you are.

• Be uninterrupted at that level.

• Gradually increase your commitment.

• Nourish a personal relationship with Krishna.

That is the way to transcend the modes and achieve steady devotion.