The Strength of Madhvaism Part 2

[Gauracandra]

Continuing with excerpts from the book by H. Subba Rao....

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Sankara's contention that a second entity's existence is a limitation to the perfection of God is wrong. The extensions of space is not limited by the numerous worlds that live in space. So also Brahman lives every where in and through all things and there is no entity that can exist without His support from within. But He lives in Himself without needing anything to support Him or to help Him: 'Sa Bhagavan Kasmin Pratisthitah! Sve Mahimneeti hovaca'. (With what as support does the Lord exist? The Guru said, He exists on the support of His own glory). It is true that Brahman is related to the world while supporting the world. Lord Krishna says that by His relation with the world, no Dharma Sankranti or transference of energy or loss of nature by contact with another being takes place. If A and B are related, part of A does not pass into B, neither any part of B enters into A. Where such transference takes place, there the question of limitation arises. But in the case of Brahman, the example given is space; 'Akasavat Sarvagatasca nitya' (Like Space God is always extended as Antaryamin in all things and is also eternal.) He is also Nirvikara like space; so by the world's co-existence with Him God's perfection is not affected in any way. The mere existence of a second world cannot be a limitation to Brahman. Just where the world lives and moves, Brahman also lives an moves unobstructed. Air and light occupy the same point of space. So Brahman and the world live together without one pushing the other to a distance. He is a subtle or apratigha dravya.

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Gauracandra