Inquiries into the Absolute: Digest 77

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Digest 77, January 7th, 2004

Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

*** You are welcome to send in your questions to HH Romapada Swami at

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Degree of free-will, Time energy

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Q 1)

 

When an individual makes a decision in the material world, is it the

soul (jiva) making the choice or is it purely the 3 modes of material

nature acting? Is the jiva merely an observer? How much free-will/

independence do we have?

 

Ans 1)

 

"Tiny free will" is Srila Prabhupada's phrase. "The jiva as an observer"

is a wrong notion. We have tiny free will, and we exercise it.

 

The 3 modes influence the decision-making capacity which we have, but

we also make conscious choices (distinct from animals and other lower

forms, who have much less evolved consciousness) and thus hold the

responsibility for those decisions. This is karma.

 

Animals can be trained, by conditioning, to not bark or to walk, etc.

Humans can be conditioned/trained by similar systems. Evolved consciousness

and with it choice-making capacity, however, is a unique feature of

consciousness of the soul with a human form and manifests actions

distinct from the modes of nature and it's behaviors. Chanting the

Holy Name, for example, is not modes-of-nature induced.

 

I think of the balance betw free will and conditioning by the modes

to be something like an animal on a leash or rope. The mode of goodness

allows more freedom because one earned it and will likely use it wisely;

ignorance has less freedom, more restriction, or "a shorter leash".

Still, while we are on a leash of some kind, we simultaneously have some

modest mobility, lesser or greater, depending upon our association with

the 3 modes.

 

Q 2)

 

Kala or time is said to be eternal. During creation, time exists. At

annihilation, when the Universe is withdrawn with the body of Maha

Vishnu, does time exist then? With everything being in a state of flux,

there should be no change. Change is the effect of time. Without the

effect what happens to the cause?

The 37th verse of Brahma Samhita refers to a transcendental time. Is

this transcendental time due to the variegatedness and ever increasing

mellows in Goloka Vrindavana?

 

Ans 2)

Kala or time is an energy of the Supreme Lord. When the cosmic

manifestation is withdrawn, the energies of creation still exist,

but are in a dormant state called avyakta. Time energy continues to

exist as well. It's action is likewise withdrawn, but it continues

existing. It is again released or set forth at the time of creation

along with the glance of Maha Visnu when He glances over the pradhana.

 

The 37th verse of Brahma Samhita is speaking of another feature of

time, namely the feature of eternal time as we find it in the spiritual

world. The evidence of past, present and future as we know it is

conspicuous by its absence.

 

 

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----- Festivals over the next week ------

Jan 12 2004, Monday Appearance Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami

Disappearance Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja

Jan 13 2004, Tuesday Disappearance Sri Jayadeva Gosvami

Jan 14 2004, Wednesday Disappearance Sri Locana Dasa Thakura

 

*** NOTE: All times are for Washington D.C, USA, EST ***

For festival information for your city please go to http://www.iskcondc.org and

click on 'Calendar'

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