Guest guest Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Srila Prabhupada warns us of the impersonalists, and the world is full of them, but what exactly are the impersonalists? I was searching for a description of that and here is what I found. The googled result for the word impersonal is - not relating to or responsive to individual persons; " an impersonal corporation " ; " an impersonal remark " having no personal preference; " impersonal criticism " ; " a neutral observer " . Any observer, who is consciously neutral, would thus be classified as an " Impersonalist " . It means that the impersonal person is not advanced in Krishna consciousness, nor has advanced much spiritually, just remains at an average level, an impersonal level. Srila prabhupada also says that demoniac creatures who were liberated by Krishna, were absorbed in the brahman effulgence, the brahmajyoti, which is the impersonal aspect of Lord Krishna. Thus unknowingly they are also there, they exist, but not in a fully conscious state, like the devotees exist in full krishna consciousness. The impersonalists might be found floating about in the causal ocean. This is a real grey area, which few know about, because to enter this area one has to lose one's individuality completely,committing spiritual suicide (that is exactly what the demons do) and merge with this effulgence.They get no chance to enjoy the association of Krishna in heaven. They get no chance to taste the conjugal relationships, the rasa dance, the wonderful spiritual expereicnes that devotees go through everyday of their lives. Thus the impersonalists may remain in a sort of dull spiritual ecstasy, but not as enhanced and thrilling as the spiritual escstacy of being Krishna conscious. Those liberated souls in impersonal existence thus cannot get to see Krishna. This is my understanding, and I would be happy to read comments of our exalted spiritual personalities in this group. This very idea has saved me and I developed a desire to server Krishna and associate with His devotees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Hare Krsna, I think there is a lot more to it than that. The impersonalists are not so bad. On behalf or Lord Shiva they exist and Lord Shiva is wonderful. He did what Bhagavan Lord Krishna wanted Him to do in order to help the demons who are not ready to be devotees. I don't think we need to curse or show intolerance towards the impersonalists. I know in the early days of ISKCON it was more like that but there are so many of them, are we going to just shut everyone else out if they are impersonal? Most people are these days. I hardly know anyone that wants to chant Hare Krsna and knows that as the solution. I chant,but I started off in an impersonalistic manner in Thelemic Magick but luckily as I have advanced in my knowledge I realized it was not so impersonal if I did not want to see it that way. Here I am opening a Magick book and I see the name 'Nrsimha'. And I thought to myself, " What is that? " I wanted to know. Well it turns out via the Magick I was studying which starts off impersonalistic led me to Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna. It's about communication. Even Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami were impersonalistic in the beginning just like the sons of Lord Brahma. The first Bhagavad-Gita I ever got into was Sri Aurobindo's version. It actually took me awhile to see Srila Prabhupada's version as the better one. With more purification I began to understand that it is the best since it is more about Devotion and not so much Sankyaite philosophy. Personally in this age I think all versions are valid more or less determined where we are going and where we want to go. Obviously Lord Krishna works with us wherever he wants to work with us. I've tried to create things in my life so that I am a much more perfect devotee via ISKCON but it has not worked so well. I have had to keep my leanings in ISKCON and even Christianity, which I used to not like very much but now I understand Jesus Christ teaches the same things about Bhakti and hardly is it impersonal. When we Love others including our enemies it is not impersonal. And Lord Krishna is not an impersonal being, He is the Supreme Controller who is watchful over us and cares so much that He wants to know us and that is the Greatest Gift ever to discover. As far as Neutrality goes, we are supposed to be Neutral to heat, cold, pleasure and pain, etc. That is not impersonal, it's just learning to not be affected be material nature. I also know that the Buddhists are considered to be impersonal but they have Hearts of Compassion. Radharani is Compassion. We should pray for the people in Myanmar and pray for the Buddhists to know Krsna as well. If they know Buddha they will know Lord Krsna. We are not these material bodies and we are not so easily disturbed as we think we are. We are all Eternally Joyful beings. Maya makes us think the silliest things and usually when it comes to Maya I just laugh really. I know of other people who claim to be their own god but really they are just reading books. Lord Krsna is in our Hearts. Sure this age is much more impersonal but if we are wise enough we won't be misled and will learn to listen to the Song of the Lord and we will See Krsna, Hear Krsna and Play with Krsna! Haribol Bhakta Aaron Jaya Jagannatha! , " sanjeev " <punjsanjeev wrote: > > Srila Prabhupada warns us of the impersonalists, and the world is > full of them, but what exactly are the impersonalists? I was > searching for a description of that and here is what I found. > > The googled result for the word impersonal is - not relating to or > responsive to individual persons; " an impersonal corporation " ; " an > impersonal remark " having no personal preference; " impersonal > criticism " ; " a neutral observer " . > > Any observer, who is consciously neutral, would thus be classified as > an " Impersonalist " . It means that the impersonal person is not > advanced in Krishna consciousness, nor has advanced much spiritually, > just remains at an average level, an impersonal level. Srila > prabhupada also says that demoniac creatures who were liberated by > Krishna, were absorbed in the brahman effulgence, the brahmajyoti, > which is the impersonal aspect of Lord Krishna. Thus unknowingly they > are also there, they exist, but not in a fully conscious state, like > the devotees exist in full krishna consciousness. The impersonalists > might be found floating about in the causal ocean. > > This is a real grey area, which few know about, because to enter this > area one has to lose one's individuality completely,committing > spiritual suicide (that is exactly what the demons do) and merge with > this effulgence.They get no chance to enjoy the association of > Krishna in heaven. They get no chance to taste the conjugal > relationships, the rasa dance, the wonderful spiritual expereicnes > that devotees go through everyday of their lives. Thus the > impersonalists may remain in a sort of dull spiritual ecstasy, but > not as enhanced and thrilling as the spiritual escstacy of being > Krishna conscious. Those liberated souls in impersonal existence thus > cannot get to see Krishna. > > This is my understanding, and I would be happy to read comments of > our exalted spiritual personalities in this group. This very idea has > saved me and I developed a desire to server Krishna and associate > with His devotees. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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