Rise Beyond Impersonalism - II

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Dear Friend, Haribol! In order to perceive the Supersoul within the individual soul, one has to cease the sensual activities of seeing, hearing, tasting, working, etc. Then one comes to understand that the Supreme Soul is present everywhere. Realizing this, one envies no living entity—he sees no difference between man and animal because he sees soul only, not the outer covering. But for the common man, this method of impersonal realization is very difficult. In

the last issue, we heard Krishna proclaiming openly that the most perfect devotees are those who worship Him in His personal form. As for those devotees who don’t, let us see what Krishna has to say about them in this issue.

 

HémãkśaramDedicated toHis Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedänta Swämi Srila PrabhupädaFounder-Achärya: International Society for Krishna Consciousness Rise Beyond Impersonalism - II

 

ye tv aksharam anirdeshyam avyaktam paryupäsate sarvatra-gam acintyam cha küta-stham achalam dhruvam sanniyamyendriya-grämam sarvatra sama-buddhayah te präpnuvanti mäm eva sarva-bhüta-hite ratäh (B.G 12.3 - 5) “Those who fully worship the unmanifested, that which lies beyond the perception of the senses, the all-pervading, inconceivable, fixed, and

immovable—the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth—by controlling the various senses and being equally disposed to everyone, such persons, engaged in the welfare of all, at last achieve Me. But For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is always difficult for those who are embodied.” Those who do not directly worship the Supreme Godhead, Krishna, but who attempt to achieve the same goal by an indirect process, also ultimately achieve the supreme goal, Sri Krishna, as is stated, “After many births the man of wisdom seeks refuge in Me, knowing Väsudeva is all.” When a person comes to full knowledge after many births, he surrenders unto Lord Krishna. If one approaches the Godhead by the method mentioned in this verse, he has to control the senses, render

service to everyone and engage in the welfare of all beings. It is inferred that one has to approach Lord Krishna, otherwise there is no perfect realization. Often there is much penance involved before one fully surrenders unto Him. The group of transcendentalists who follow the path of the inconceivable, unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme Lord are called jïäna-yogis, and persons who are in full Krishna consciousness, engaged in devotional service to the Lord, are called bhakti-yogis. Now, here the difference between jïäna-yoga and bhakti-yoga is definitely expressed. The process of jïäna-yoga, although ultimately

bringing one to the same goal, is very troublesome, whereas the path of bhakti-yoga, the process of being in direct service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is easier and is natural for the embodied soul. The individual soul is embodied since time immemorial. It is very difficult for him to simply theoretically understand that he is not the body. They have to understand the unmanifested representation of the Supreme through such Vedic literatures as the Upanishads, and they have to learn the language, understand the nonperceptual feelings, and they have to realize all these processes. This is not very easy for a common man. A person in Krishna consciousness, engaged in devotional service, simply by the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master, simply by offering regulative obeisances unto the Deity, simply by hearing the glories of the Lord, and simply by eating the

remnants of foodstuffs offered to the Lord, realizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is no doubt that the impersonalists are unnecessarily taking a troublesome path with the risk of not realizing the Absolute Truth at the ultimate end. But the personalist, without any risk, trouble, or difficulty, approaches the Supreme Personality directly. A similar passage appears in Shrimad-Bhägavatam. It is stated there that if one has to ultimately surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead (This surrendering process is called bhakti.), but instead takes the trouble to understand what is Brahman and what is not Brahman and spends his whole life in that way, the result is simply troublesome. Thus this process of centering attention on the unmanifested, the inconceivable, which is beyond the approach of the senses, should never be encouraged at any time, especially in this age. It is not advised by

Lord Krishna. This issue brought out the risk that people take while treading the impersonal route to Krishna. In the next issue we shall see what Krishna has to say about those who engage themselves in His service, directly. Hope you enjoyed this edition of the Hémãkśaram. For any correspondence, you are invited to write to vedicvisions. Do allow a couple of days for a reply. Haribol!Humbly yours,Friends of Lord Krishna.

 

Please Chant:Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare HareAnd Be

Happy.

If you are interested in the subject matter, get in touch with:INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESSHare Krishna Hill,Chord

Road,Bangalore-560 010.Phone: 3578346, 3471956.(Web: www.iskconbangalore.org)

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