Inquiries into the Absolute: Digest 24

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Digest 24, January 31 2002

 

Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

 

Modes of material nature

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Q.1) In the SB 6.1.51 it is explained that the subtle body is endowed with

sixteen parts -- the five knowledge-acquiring senses (nose, tongue, eyes, skin

and ears), the five working senses (speech, hands, legs, genitals and anus),

the five objects of sense gratification (beauty, taste, smell, sound and

touch), and the mind. In other places the subtle body is described as composed

of mind, intelligence and false-ego. In SB 6.1.51 it is stated that "this

subtle body is an effect of the three modes of material nature and is composed

of insurmountably strong desires."

 

How does one reconcile all these compositions of the subtle body. Are they

quantitative, qualitative and functional? How do we relate these elements to

one another?

 

Answer:

The sankhya-yoga system of Lord Kapiladev identifies the material composition

of creation as being composed of 24 elements, whereas the seventh chapter of BG

identifies 8 elements which comprise the entire material creation. They can be

thought of as two systems, both of which are equally valid and correct. They

both analyze material composition effectively; one will obviously have more

detail than the other, yet they are both equally valid.

 

The same comparison can be made with the 16 parts which make up the subtle body

in the sankhya system, found in SB 6.1.51 and the 3 subtle elements which make

up subtle body, per BG Ch 7's analysis.

 

In SB 3.26.24-34, an explanation is found wherein the subtle body is manifest

in it's various components due to contact of the primal element of creation,

i.e. ahankar, with the 3 modes of nature.

 

Finally, the subtle body includes the mind in both systems of analysis. The

mind is the sitting place of all material desires, which are very strong---so

strong that they bind and bewilder the superior energy, the jiva soul!

 

Q.2) Why does bad thoughts come in my mind without any desire or even if I

don't like to have such thoughts? Is it the result of past karma that is acting

on the mental plane?

 

Answer:

Exactly! Seeds or subtle impressions are stored in the mind from past bad

activity; these impressions or seeds fructify in the form or bad thoughts after

some time, bringing the reaction of disturbance to the mind for the past bad

activities.

 

 

Srimad Bhagavatam

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Q.3) Does Hiranyaksha go into the Garbhodaka ocean looking for Vishnu, after

talking to Varuna (SB 3.2.1)? Is the ocean mentioned there the ocean that Lord

Vishnu lies on Ananta Sesha?

 

Answer:

Yes.

 

Q.4) Will the demons killed by Krishna ever go back to Godhead?

 

Answer:

With some very special exceptions, the demons killed by Krishna went back to

Godhead.

 

Q.5) Since from Brahmajyoti one will fall down after sometime will they keep

repeating birth and death?

 

Answer:

Yes.

 

Q.6) Jaya and Vijaya's case they took birth only for a curse so did they return

after three lives?

 

Answer:

Yes.

 

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

Feb 01 2002, Friday Appearance Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami

Disappearance Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja

Feb 02 2002, Saturday Disappearance Sri Jayadeva Gosvami

Feb 03 2002, Sunday Disappearance Sri Locana Dasa Thakura

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