Inquiries into the Absolute: Digest 45

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Digest 45, Nov 15, 2002

 

Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

 

General

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Q.1) I have a query, which I want to humbly put forward to you for

clarification. The Lord is supreme and complete, "purna". So anything

emanating from `purna' will also be `purna'. Like 1+1=1, or 1-1=1. My question

is - why are the jivas and material energy not complete or as powerful as the

Lord? I know that this point is not linked with the `purna' analogy so the

question is foolish. But still I am not able to convince myself. Can you kindly

clarify this foolish doubt of mine?

 

Answer:

This is an important question, thank you for asking it!

 

A common similar question to the one you are asking is "If God is perfect, then

how is it possible that the material world and living entities, which have come

from Him, be full of imperfections?" Your question is related, but slighly

different: "Both living entities and materal creation exhibit incompleteness.

How is this possible, since they emanate from the Complete Whole, and are said

to be themselves complete?"

 

Living entities and material nature, since they are connected to the Supreme

source of everything, are not imperfect; they are all complete and perfect. But

quantitatively we are infinitesimal (anu) while the Lord is infinite (vibhu),

just as a drop of ocean water is to the ocean. Thus, our completeness is a

dependent reality, whereas the Lord's completeness is a fully independent

reality. By carefully noting these two distinct types of 'completeness', you

will find the answer to your puzzle or doubt.

 

We are complete, but dependently complete. To clarify this understanding, let

us take an example that Srila Prabhupada often quoted, ie. the relationship

between one's finger and the body. The finger is a complete functional unit,

but it is complete only as long as it is connected to the body. It cannot

detach itself from the body and somehow act as a separate entity, equal in

completeness to the body; rather it becomes dysfunctional when so detached. In

the same way the living entity, though never equal to the Lord, has been

provided with everything he needs for complete and wholesome existence in

relation to the Supreme. Imperfections and scarcity and all other types of

incompleteness result from forgetfulness of that relationship with God, which

in turn is caused by deliberate misuse of our tiny free will.

 

Similarly, the completeness of this created realm is experienced in fullness

when we direct our free will completely in relation to God. More exactly, this

realm becomes as good as Vaikuntha, if and only if our minute free will is

connected in pure devotion to the will of the Supreme.

 

In summary, the concept of purna is to be understood in a qualitative sense. We

are NOT quantitatively equal to God, as your question points out. But

qualitatively, all emanations from the Absolute are of the same absolute

nature, due to their being part of the absolute. When the tiny soul's

consciousness is directed away from Krishna, recognition of his qualitative

oneness with the Supreme becomes covered. Instead, he experiences illusion, ie

the sense of incompleteness. Illusion becomes mistaken for reality, by this

error of consciousness. Once again, we see that our 'completeness' is of a

dependent nature. That is our spiritual identity.

 

Cf Sri Isopanisad, Invocation.

 

Modes of material Nature

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Q.2) There are stories about Christian mystics who fell victims to demons while

thinking that they communicate with God. For example, during deep prayers and

austerities, some of them smelled heavenly fragrance and a divine being

appeared to them, speaking seemingly about spiritual truths, but in fact that

"angel" was misleading that ardent Christian mystic. Is something like that

possible in Vaishnavism? How to recognize who is on the other side of the line?

 

Answer:

The science of God is very precise and when it is not properly executed, then

there is all chance of being misled. Generally, when someone has somehow been

influenced by tama guna (mode of ignorance) they are contacted by such spirits

and beings. And this may happen even to an aspiring spiritualist if they are

not under proper guidance concerning the spiritual science. One who is advanced

in the mode of goodness can immediately distinguish such beings from divine

ones.

 

In the teachings of Vaishnavism, one is always recommended to make a

three-point check: guru, sadhu and sastra. One must take guidance from elevated

saintly persons but one must make sure that their message or teaching is in

consonance with the basic teachings of sastra and with previous saintly persons

and acharyas. In order to do this, one must make the effort to familiarize

oneself and be conversant with the standard teachings of the sastra, for

example Bhagavad-gita.

 

We find in the descriptions of Caitanya caritamrita that even when Lord

Caitanya Mahaprabhu was manifesting uncommon love of God and divine opulences,

learned persons like Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya did not accept him blindly. When

told that Lord Caitanya was an incarnation of Krishna, he analyzed based on

sastra, where such incarnations are mentioned. If someone deviates from the

basic principles of sastra (and such `spirits' always do so) immediately they

are to be rejected, whatever mystic miracles they may display.

 

Quite apart from this, a side point is that Vaishnavas in general are not

obsessed with this kind of mystical communion with God. They are more

interested simply in serving God and purifying their hearts. Their confidence

is that the Lord will manifest Himself before them when they become qualified,

drawn by their devotion. Even the six gosvamis, who were all pure devotees and

liberated souls, and could enter into Krishna's pastimes in meditation, never

claimed that they saw Krishna. Rather, in a humble mood, they were always

praying to the Lord, desiring for that day to come when they would be fortunate

enough to see Krishna. Or, as one of our previous acharyas, Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, would instruct: "Don't try to see Krishna. Rather,

you should conduct your life in such a way that Krishna will want to see you!"

 

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

Nov 15 2002, Friday Disappearance Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji (Fast)

Ekadasi Utthana (Break fast 06:52-10:13)

Bhisma Pancaka

(Fasting till noon)

(Feasting is done tomorrow)

Nov 18 2002, Monday Disappearance Sri Bhugarbha Gosvami

Disappearance Sri Kasisvara Pandita

Nov 19 2002, Tuesday Appearance Sri Nimbarkacarya

Sri Krsna Rasayatra

Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha (marriage)

Nov 20 2002, Wednesday Katyayani vrata begins

 

*** 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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