Post by niscala on Nov 22, 2013 19:27:30 GMT -5
On a forum where the origin of the jiva was being discussed, one devotee in support of "we all come from Krsna-lila" responded to various quotes-- that describe the origin of the jiva to be the brahmajyoti-- by giving the opinion that it was offensive to attribute an impersonal origin to the jiva.
Ironically, this is itself impersonalism- because the brahmajyoti is nothing but the rays coming from the transcendental body of Krsna. So the origin is Krsna- He is the cause of all causes. He is a person- so there is nothing impersonal at all in the origin of the jiva.
Neither does such an argument (of origins in the brahmajyoti) encourage impersonalism, quite the opposite. If the goal of impersonalism is to merge with the brahmajyoti, then the impersonalist is really running around in circles- suffering for no reason at all- because in the end, he will end up where he started off!
What purpose, then, does the illusory energy serve? If the soul has reached its zenith of enlightenment in the effulgent rays, and when enlightened will end up there anyway- why come here at all? If we say that it is the nature of the illusory energy to do that, with no benefit to the soul, then such an understanding, ironically, is dualism- the belief in ultimate good and evil. On the other hand, vaisnava philosophy is non-dualism- because everything, including the illusory energy, serves the purpose of the one Lord. The soul is helped to evolve in its capacity to love, by evolving through various species, and at every step its desire to enjoy separately and contrary to the interest of the Lord is thwarted, until exhausted of material possibilities, it surrenders via the mercy of the acaryas, through their guidance. Then what has been evolving all along in the soul, his capacity to love, actually brings him happiness, not pain, in loving exchanges with the Lord and the purified souls who serve Him. Reading their pastimes not only brings happiness, it has the effect of everything making sense here and now.
Therefore the argument that we originated from the brahmajyoti is completely harmonious with bhakti and common sense- as the material energy is given a purpose- in harmony with love- and therefore Krsna.
The idea of the impersonalists- that we started off in the brahmajyoti- and after suffering excrutiatingly in material clutches- if successful- we just end up where we started, is very similar to the idea of the fall-vadis- in that in both cases- we just end up where we start from. This renders the illusory energy to be without a purpose that fulfills the Lord's loving desire to ever expand His retinue of beloveds!
What does not make sense- at all- is that we were nitya siddhas and fell down, as it implies incomplete protection for prema imbued devotees. Krsna never fails in His promise to protect His devotees. And as the guru within for the jiva soul, He is ever arranging for the souls evolution.
Ironically, this is itself impersonalism- because the brahmajyoti is nothing but the rays coming from the transcendental body of Krsna. So the origin is Krsna- He is the cause of all causes. He is a person- so there is nothing impersonal at all in the origin of the jiva.
Neither does such an argument (of origins in the brahmajyoti) encourage impersonalism, quite the opposite. If the goal of impersonalism is to merge with the brahmajyoti, then the impersonalist is really running around in circles- suffering for no reason at all- because in the end, he will end up where he started off!
What purpose, then, does the illusory energy serve? If the soul has reached its zenith of enlightenment in the effulgent rays, and when enlightened will end up there anyway- why come here at all? If we say that it is the nature of the illusory energy to do that, with no benefit to the soul, then such an understanding, ironically, is dualism- the belief in ultimate good and evil. On the other hand, vaisnava philosophy is non-dualism- because everything, including the illusory energy, serves the purpose of the one Lord. The soul is helped to evolve in its capacity to love, by evolving through various species, and at every step its desire to enjoy separately and contrary to the interest of the Lord is thwarted, until exhausted of material possibilities, it surrenders via the mercy of the acaryas, through their guidance. Then what has been evolving all along in the soul, his capacity to love, actually brings him happiness, not pain, in loving exchanges with the Lord and the purified souls who serve Him. Reading their pastimes not only brings happiness, it has the effect of everything making sense here and now.
Therefore the argument that we originated from the brahmajyoti is completely harmonious with bhakti and common sense- as the material energy is given a purpose- in harmony with love- and therefore Krsna.
The idea of the impersonalists- that we started off in the brahmajyoti- and after suffering excrutiatingly in material clutches- if successful- we just end up where we started, is very similar to the idea of the fall-vadis- in that in both cases- we just end up where we start from. This renders the illusory energy to be without a purpose that fulfills the Lord's loving desire to ever expand His retinue of beloveds!
What does not make sense- at all- is that we were nitya siddhas and fell down, as it implies incomplete protection for prema imbued devotees. Krsna never fails in His promise to protect His devotees. And as the guru within for the jiva soul, He is ever arranging for the souls evolution.
