Kṛṣṇa gives the symptom of a Sattvic state. He says that when all the ‘gates’ of the body (the senses) are illuminated by the light of knowledge, one should know that the mode of goodness has increased. In this state, you see things as they are, you hear what is true, and your mind is clear and sharp. The ‘gates’ are the windows through which the soul interacts with the world. When Sattva prevails, these windows are clean. You have ‘Prakāśa’ or clarity. You don’t misinterpret situations; you don’t act out of impulse. You feel ‘light’ and ‘awake’. This is the ideal state for making important life decisions and for spiritual practice. It teaches us to value mental clarity. If our senses are clouded by lust or confusion, we cannot see the truth. Cultivating Sattva means ‘polishing the gates’. By eating clean food, reading wise books, and associating with calm people, we invite this light into our lives, making our journey through the material world much safer and smoother.