Theology and Philosophy

A VTE publication

Introduction
This section of the website is based on the handbook Theology and Philosophy, a training
handbook produced by Manor Training and Education, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England.

This handbook was originally intended for use in group instruction for new people, but we hope it
will also be of use for our web audience.

Introduction (from the original book)

Preliminary discussions

What is philosophy?
1. Seeking after wisdom or knowledge, esp. that which deals with ultimate reality, or with the
general causes and principles of things.
2. The academic study of knowledge, thought, and the meaning of life.
3. The particular doctrines of a specific school relating to these issues.
4. Any system of belief or values.

"Philo" is from Greek and means to have a love or a liking for. "sophy" comes from the Greek
word for wisdom.

What is theology?
A system of religion; rational analysis or study of a religious faith.

"Theo" comes from the Greek for God. "logy" refers to the study of something.

Theology is the science of God, says Srila Prabhupada, which means knowing God, His nature,
and our relationship to Him.

The science of love of God: sambandha, abhideya, prayojana

Three spiritual divisions of Vedic knowledge:

» Sambandha: the living entity's eternal relationship with Supreme Personality of Godhead
» Abhidheya: The living entity's understanding of this relationship and acting accordingly
» Prayojana: the ultimate goal of life: to develop love of God and return back to Godhead.

The three stages of spiritual advancement

First one has to establish his relationship with God as the eternal servant (sambandha). Then he
acts in that relationship (abhidheya), in order to achieve the goal of lifelove for God (prayojana).

The same applies to any relationship. A boy and girl, for example, may want a family. First they
meet and establish a relationship. They marry. Then they act in that relationship. And then
comes the fruit, children.

Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana: These are the culmination of the entire Vedanta philosophy,
the essence of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the great riches of life.
CONTENTS

Introduction
1: The Existence of God
2: The Search for the Absolute Truth
The Methods of Attaining Knowledge
The Four Defects of the Conditioned Soul
3: "You Are Not The Material Body"
The Soul
Sanatana-dharma
4: Faith
5: The Three Aspects of the Absolute Truth
6: Krishna: The Supreme Absolute Truth
The Five Primary Rasas
7: The Three Energies of the Lord
Maya (Illusion)
8: The Creation
Universal Time
9: Perceiving Krishna in His Creation
10: The Three Modes of Material Nature
The Law of Karma
Destiny and Free Will
Re-incarnation
11: Death
Liberation
1: The Existence of God

Janmadyasya yathah: "The Absolute Truth is that from which everything comes, upon which
everything is based. It is the ultimate origin and foundation." (Vedanta-sutra)

"No personal God can form part of a world model that has only become accessible at the cost of
removing everything personal from it." (Erwin Schrödinger, Nobel-prize-winning physicist)

People are generally more inclined to listen to the positive case for God's existence after their
objections against His existence are shown to be insubstantial.

How could you deal with of the following objections?

1. Why is there so much suffering in the world?
2. You cannot give any proof of God.
3. You have a belief, but we have real knowledge (science).
4. It is just a psychological need of weak people.

» The ontological argument: There is no question of whether or not there is a Supreme —

something must be supreme in the universe; it is just a matter of finding out what it is.
» The origin is either nothing, impersonal, or personal.
» The Absolute is by definition unlimited. It must therefore include both personal and impersonal
aspects.
» Everyone had a father before him. But ultimately the line must trace back to the original father.
» We speak of Mother Nature, but who is the Father? Where do the souls come from that give life
to the material bodies?
» All the scriptures of the world confirm the existence of God.
» Krishna as the Supersoul, causes remembrance, knowledge, and forgetfulness. Instinct and the
occurrence of inspiration further indicate His presence in the heart.

Intelligent Design

"It does not matter whether or not we see the lawmaker behind the common laws; we must
admit that there is a lawmaker. Matter can never work automatically, without a living hand, and
therefore we must admit the existence of God, the supreme living being, behind the laws of
nature." (Srila Prabhupada, Light of the Bhagavata)

If you didn't know anything about watches, and you found one lying somewhere, you would not
suppose that the watch's form was an accident, with its intricate and finely tuned mechanics. You
would assume it had been designed and created by someone with a particular purpose in mind.

Similarly, the incredible complexity and perfection of the creation indicates intelligent design: the
tiny atoms and molecules, the workings of cells and biological functions, the variety of life-forms,
the balance of the ecosystem and nature, the planetary systems and stars, the universal laws.
2: The Search for the Absolute Truth

What is the importance of understanding the ultimate nature of reality? Consider the
following points.

» Krishna declares (Bg 13.12) that "the philosophical search for the absolute truth" is one of the
conditions for being in a state of knowledge.
» Searching for the absolute truth (brahma jijnasa) will lead one to Krishna (bahunam janmanam
ante).
» Lasting happiness: Happiness based on temporary material reality must also be temporary, but
happiness based on the absolute truth is permanent.
» If we don't understand who we are and what's going on, we won't be able to find true
satisfaction and be free from suffering.
» Everyone naturally tries to improve and work toward perfection. Life in the spiritual world by
definition is the ultimate perfection. But this perfection is only attainable by one in knowledge of
the absolute truth.
» It is always preferable to understand reality. No one chooses illusion. If you ask someone a
question, you don't ask him to mislead you.
» Only two kinds of people are happy in the material world: the completely illusioned (madman)
and the completely enlightened (sage).
» Even in the mundane realm, the man in knowledge is the happy man: he knows how to attain
his desired goal. Ignorance causes suffering.
» A mathematical equation with a faulty basis will produce an incorrect conclusion. Similarly, if
our perception of the world has a faulty basis, our conclusions about life and who we are and
what we should be doing will be wrong. Our perception of reality affects everything we do.
» House on a rock or sand: A life based on eternal, universal truths is like a house built on solid
stone; a life based on temporary, conditional situations (or on illusory facts) is like a house built
on sand. Which is more stable?
» Bubble of illusion: We may feel safe as long as we live in our own little bubble that we create
for ourselves. But reality is always stronger than illusion and will ultimately come and burst our
bubble.
» Not being situated in true knowledge has deep repercussions on the human psyche. Deep
inside, people feel there is something wrong. They can't quite place their finger on it, but if they
absorb themselves in the surface bustle of daily life they can manage to drown out the profound
inner yearning for certainty. That certainty and many other strengths can be found in knowledge
of the Truth.
2.1: The Methods of Attaining Knowledge

The starting point in philosophical discussion is epistemology — establishing the basis of

knowledge. Jiva Goswami lists ten methods of attaining knowledge in his Sat-sandharbha,
including tradition, history, guessing, comparison, probability, and logic, and shows how all of
them fit into three main categories.

1. Pratyaksa (direct sense perception): The knowledge we get through the five senses.
2. Anumana (mental reasoning): Literally "to follow (anu) the mind (mana)"
3. Sabda (authoritive testimony): Literally "sound"

How might you apply each of the methods to finding out the following?
» The size of the sun
» What's on the radio
» Whether or not there really is a Santa Claus
» How long it takes to fry 100 eggplant pakoras
» How the film-makers create their special effects

What uses and limitations do each of the three methods have?

About the Vedic Authority

» The Vedas are like an instruction manual to the material world.
» The creator knows his creation best.
» Inductive (by own strength) and deductive (that comes down) knowledge: if the authority is
perfect, then hearing from it is the perfect method.
» We can experiment and come to the same conclusion, but accepting authority will save us time.
» The Vedic knowledge is described as apauruseya (not of man).
» The Vedas are accepted as axiomatic.

2.2: The Four Defects of the Conditioned Soul

Imperfect Senses (Karanapatava): The senses are limited and can easily be misled.
Illusion (Pramada): Accepting as real something that is not real.
Mistakes (Bhrama): "To err is human."
Cheating (Vipralipsa): To propagate falsehood, to present yourself as something you are not.
3: "You Are Not The Material Body"

The Power of Identity

The belief that you hold about who you are and your identity, is very powerful; the way you see
yourself in relationship to everything else determines your behaviour and your goals.

The transcendentalist is constantly endeavoring to realize himself as a spiritual soul, different

from any of the temporary bodily designations to which we so strongly identify ourselves.

You are an eternal spirit; we were never born and we will never die. This is the first point Krishna
explains in the Bhagavad-gita. Understanding this is the first step in spiritual life

Common Arguments:
» What is the difference between a dead body and a living body? When someone dies, we say,
"Oh, he has gone." Even a child can understand that the person is no longer there.
» Any combination of non-conscious atoms or dull material elements cannot produce
consciousness. This is common sense.
» Energy is never lost or destroyed. So what happens to the source of consciousness, the living
force, at the time of death?
» We even say, "My body." That indicates that we intuitively know that the "I" owns the body;
they are two different things.
» People's testimonies about out of body experiences and past life memories give us powerful
evidence.
» The Vedas conclude: Matter, which can be percieved by the material senses, is temporal and
unconscious. Spirit, which is imperceptible to the material senses, is the eternal consciousness.
» Together they make up the whole of reality which we experience in this universe.

Some common objections:

Objection
But the soul can't be percieved in any way or measured with any instrument. Why should we
believe in a hypothetical entity for which there is no evidence?

Counter-argument
Actually, you can see the soul; it is just a matter of training, just as you must study in the
university for many years to see how an atom exists. The soul is like a spiritual atom. The
symptom of its presence is consciousness.

Objection
Evolution theory has proven that life is a result of chemical combinations — everyone knows that.

Counter-argument
Evolution theory is still a theory, and scientists know that it has many problems. And a significant
body of discoveries defies the theory. It is far from having proven anything. We challenge people
to prove that life comes from chemicals by demonstrating it in the laboratory.

Objection
The brain is so complex, we cannot understand how it works, but you can tell that it is the source
of consciousness because if certain parts are damaged, the consciousness is impaired.

Counter-argument
Not necessarily. If a computer is damaged, the user's ability to operate through the computer will
be impaired, but that doesn't mean that the user is created by the computer. Consciousness may
work through the brain but that doesn't mean that the brain is conscious. It is still a collection of
material elements. Atoms, electrons, and molecules cannot see, no matter what combination you
put them in.
3.1: The Soul

The soul is the life force within the body. It is the source of consciousness, your very self, which
is experiencing the changes of the mind and body. Therefore it is also called the knower of the
"field" (i.e. body).

Here is a list of important qualities

» Eternally an individual personality and identity

» Pleasure-seeking by nature
» Sat-cit-ananda (eternal, knowledgable, blissful)
» Transcendental / does not mix with anything
» More powerful than ten thousand suns
» Situated in the heart alongside with the Supersoul
» Always dependent; must take shelter of Krishna or His energy
» An eternal part and parcel of Krishna and therefore has the same qualities as Krishna
» A servant and lover of Krishna
» Controlled by Krishna
» Naturally serves Krishna
» Illuminates the entire body with consciousness, as sun illuminates the solar system.
» Never born and never dies
» Ten-thousandth of the tip of a hair in size
» Unbreakable, insoluble, everlasting, indestructible,
» Unchangeable, invisible, inconceivable and immutable.
» Cannot be cut by any weapon, burned by fire, moistened by water, nor dried by the wind.

3.2: Sanatana-dharma

The Constitutional Position of the Soul

» Sanatana means eternal.
» Self-realisation means to understand the real nature (eternal identity) of the self.
» Identity is defined in terms of relationships to others-parents, brothers, uncles, occupation,
community, society, nation.
» If we want to know our ultimate, eternal (constitutional) identity, we have to see our postion in
relationship to the absolute truth, to God.

So what is our relationship to God?

That is our dharma, our eternal (sanatana-) dharma.

» Colloquially, dharma means occupation, religion, or path. But these are not universal or eternal
or the essence of the living being's existence.
» The root meaning of dharma is "essence" or "that which sustains ones existence"; For instance
saltiness is the essence of salt — you can not remove it. Heat and light are the essences of fire;
they are its dharma. Similarily the essential nature of the living entitiy is activity in relationship to
others: service.
» Religion really means to re-link. And re-linking with God is a process universal to all religions.
Yoga means the same thing: to connect oneself with God. And this connection is re-established
through service.

Summary
So, our constitutional identity is defined by our relationship to the Lord. Our essential nature is to
serve. Therefore we are servants of the Lord, just as the part is to the whole. This is our
sanatana-dharma, our eternal occupation, our real religion.
4: Faith

A faithful man who is dedicated to transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses is
eligible to achieve such knowledge, and having achieved it he quickly attains the supreme
spiritual peace. But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not
attain God consciousness; they fall down. For the doubting soul there is no happiness neither in
this world nor in the next. (Bhagavad-gita 4.39-40)

Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies.
Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world. (Bhagavad-gita 9.3)

Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the Supreme, O son of Prtha, is
impermanent. It is called asat and is useless both in this life and the next. (Bhagavad-gita 17.28)

And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation of ours worships Me by his
intelligence. And one who listens with faith and without envy becomes free from sinful reactions
and attains to the auspicious planets where the pious dwell. (Bhagavad-gita 18.70-71)

How to develop faith and destroy doubts

» Associate with faithful devotees.
» Cleanse the heart of all the material dirt that causes doubt by chanting Hare Krishna and follow
the Krishna consciousness process.
» Take shelter of Krishna with prayer and submission.
» Follow the process and see for yourself how it works.
» See how it works for others.
» Cultivate knowledge and philosophical understanding, and destroy ignorance by study of the
scriptures and through philosophical inquiry.

One who follows the instruction of the Bhagavad-gita, as it is imparted by the Lord, the
Personality of Godhead Himself, becomes free from all doubts by the grace of transcendental
knowledge.

Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the
weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, O Bharata, stand and fight. (Bhagavad-gita 4.41-42)
5: The Three Aspects of the Absolute Truth

Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman,
Paramatma or Bhagavan. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.11)

Brahman: Brahman means spirit, the greatest, supreme, Krishna's all-pervading energy.
It is the oneness that underlies the variety of manifestations, the substance of existence.

» Saguna Brahman: Brahman with manifested qualities (material world).

» Nirguna Brahman: Without manifested qualities (spiritual world).

Paramatma (Supersoul): A localised expansion of the Lord, expanded everywhere in every

heart and atom of the material universe.

» He is one but appears divided, just as the sun shines on everyone.

» He knows all bodies, unlike the individual soul.
» His source and identity: Ksirodakasayi Vishnu
» He is sometimes detectable as conscience or the inner voice.
» He has all knowledge and is our best well-wishing friend.

Bhagavan: (= of opulence [bhaga] the owner [van])

» The personal and original aspect of the Absolute Truth.

» Bhagavan realisation includes Paramatma and Brahman realisation.
» Parasara Muni's definition: the Supreme Personality who possesses all six opulences in full.
6: Krishna, the Supreme Absolute Truth

The Supreme Lord and His abode

What makes Krishna unique?

isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah

anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam

"Krishna, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Godhead. He has a spiritual form of eternity,
knowledge, and bliss. He is the origin of all and He has no other origin, for He is the primeval
cause of all causes." (Brahma-samhita)

Krishna is the original source of everything in existence: all energies, all Vishnu-tattva
expansions, all living beings. Everything everywhere that expands from Him, is a part of Him. He
is the supreme object of worship, the supreme master, the supreme friend, the supreme lover.

Krishna is known as the son of Nanda and Yasoda. He is renowned for playing His flute and
wearing a peacock feather on His hair. He always appears as a fresh youth and He is called
Syama because His bodily hue is like the blackish-blue monsoon clouds.

Govinda means the giver of pleasure to the cows or the senses. He plays as a cowherd boy in the
forests of Vrndavana and enjoys conjugal pastimes with the beautiful cowherd damsels,
especially with His internal pleasure potency, Radharani. The crown-jewel among His wonderful
varieties of pastimes is the rasa-lila dance.

His devotees' love for Him is the most exalted anywhere in the universe. He can attract all living
entities by playing His flute. His name means the all-attractive one. The exquisite beauty of His
form cannot be rivaled by any one in the creation.

Radharani and Her expansions

Radharani is Krishna's supreme and eternal consort. She expands Herself into innumerable forms
for the Lords pleasure. All the gopis, the queens of Dvaraka and the Laksmis consorts of Vishnu
or Narayana, are all expansions of Radharani.

The Four Dhams or abodes of the Lord

Knowing these four realms or abodes gives one an overview of the sum totality of existence
(summum bonum).

Devi-dham: The abode of Mayadevi; the material world

» Where the living entities go when they give up the desire to serve Krishna and desire to enjoy
separately from the Lord
» Meant for fulfilling the living entity's desires and rehabilitation
» A temporal place of illusory enjoyment and constant suffering
» Conditioned by birth, old age, disease and death
» The knowledge of the living entity is covered by ignorance and illusion
» False ego makes the living entity identify with the material body
» A place of duality and relativity

Mahesa-dham: Lord Siva's abode in the Viraja River (Causal Ocean) between the
material and spiritual worlds.
» A marginal place between Devi-dham and Hari-dham
» Not part of the spiritual world, nor the material world
» No opportunity to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead
» For impersonalists who want to merge into the Transcendence
» For liberated souls who have not realised the opulence of Hari-dhama
» The destination of nirvana, the Buddha philosophy
» System of jnana-yoga makes one eligible to enter there
Vaikuntha-dham (Hari-dham): the spiritual world
» Means "free from anxiety" (Vai-free from; kuntha-anxiety)
» Unlimited planets, each being unlimited with a Vishnu-tattva expansion of the Lord.
» Once having gone there, we never return to the material world
» Ever-increasing pleasure and love
» No artificial lighting — everything is self-illuminating
» Ever-fresh, youthful, eternal, immortal
» Each planet is predominated by a particular expansion of Narayana
» Everyone and everything there is perfect
» Everything is made of pure consciousness
» Kama-dhenu cows, Kalpa-vrksa wish-fulfilling trees
» Described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.12-24

Krishnaloka or Goloka-dham
» The supreme spiritual planet in Vaikuntha
» It is like the whorl of a lotus flower (other planets are the petals)
» Three divisions: Vrndavana, Mathura, Dvaraka
» It emanates the bright rays of effulgence (brahmajyoti) throughout the entire spiritual world.
» Krishna performs wonderful pastimes there and reveals His sweetness.
» Every step is a dance, every word is a song

Being the abode of the original Supreme Personality, Goloka-dham displays special features not
found anywhere else in Vaikuntha. Among them are the especially sweet relationships (rasas)
Krishna has with His devotees there.
6.1: The Five Primary (Direct) Rasas

These rasas are eternally manifested in the hearts of the pure devotees.

1. Santa 2. Dasya 3. Sakhya 4. Vatsalya 5. Madhurya

(neutrality) (servitude) (Friendship) (Parental) (Conjugal)

Activities Activities Activities Activities Activities

Meditation and Menial service Joking Bathing Exchange of
worship of Prayers Fighting Dressing glances and
Brahman and Obeisances Playing Decorating sweet smiles
Paramatma Fanning Massaging Chastising Dancing
Appreciating Carrying umbrella Counselling Instructing Kissing
Krishna's beauty Supplying betel Relaying Protecting. Embracing
Cleaning clothes confidential Talks and
Qualities messages Qualities arguments
Full attachment Qualities Singing Full attachment
to Krishna Full attachment Dancing to Krishna's Qualities
to Krishna's service Full attachment
Examples service Qualities Relaxed intimacy to Krishna's
Sukadeva Full attachment Maintenance service
Goswami Examples to Krishna Relaxed intimacy
Bilvamangala Brahma Service Relaxed Examples Maintenance
Four Kumaras Daruka intimacy Yasoda-mata Offering the body
Navayogendras Uddhava Nanda Maharaj
Pradyumna Examples Devaki Examples
Bhisma Sudama Vasudeva Radharani
Arjuna Kunti Rukmini
Bhima Rohini Satyabhama
Ujjvala Sandipani Muni Lalita
Stoka Krishna Visakha
Candravali
7: The Three Energies of the Lord

The Lord has unlimited energies, but all of these energies can be divided into three main
categories.

1. Bahiranga-sakti: External energy (the material world)

Is everything a part of Krishna and connected to Him?

Why is the material world called the external energy or Krsna's separated energy (bhinna-
prakriti)?

Inconceivably one and different simultaneously: (Acintya-bhedabheda-tattva)

Sunshine and clouds come from the sun; thus they are simultaneously one with the sun and
different from the sun. Similarly, the living entities and the material creation come from Krishna
and are thus simultaneously one with and different from Krishna.

2. Tatastha-sakti: Marginal energy (the living entities)

Stha means position.

Tata is the point at the edge of the waves that roll up on the beach, the margin between water
and land.

The living entities, the marginal energy of the Lord, are compared to sea-weed that can drift in
the ocean waves or wash up on the shore.

Why is it important to know this? Overcoming maya

This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to
overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it. (Bhagavad-gita
7.14)

Taking shelter
O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine
nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible. (Bhagavad-gita 9.13)

If you don't take shelter of the internal energy, you will remain in the shelter of the external
energy. The living entity is always under the shelter of one of these two. You cannot be outside of
both. You cannot realise one while in the other.

3. Antaranga-sakti: Internal energy (the spiritual world)

Antaranga-sakti includes everything in the spiritual world and is under the direct shelter of the
spiritual energy.
7.1: Maya

Devotees often refer to the material world as maya. Maya means "that which is not", or illusion.
Knowing the illusions of the material world is important in spiritual life.

What illusions of the material world can you think of?

The material world is a place of suffering

Srila Prabhupada often emphasised that the material world is a place of suffering. Why is it
important to emphasise this point? Why do devotees need to be convinced about it?

The three-fold miseries of life

Adhyatmika: Miseries coming from one's own body and mind (aching bones, rotting teeth,
headaches, worry and stress, etc.)

Adhibhautika: Miseries coming from other living beings (mosquitoes, envious people, vicious
dogs, etc)

Adhidaivika: Miseries coming from nature (demigods) (earthquake, famine, extreme weather
conditions, etc.)

Birth, death, old-age, and disease

Seeing how these four limiting factors of the material world create suffering for the living entity is
an item of knowledge listed in Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12.

It takes a little contemplation and discussion to grasp. We usually forget the suffering of birth,
and while we are young and healthy, old age, disease, and death seem distant and irrelevant.
Therefore the Bhagavatam attempts to awaken us.

» Consider the suffering the child goes through at birth.

» Disease is a misery that repeatedly arises throughout life. See how many different kinds of
disease and affliction you can think of.
» Consider also the disturbing symptoms of old-age.
» Lord Kapila describes (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.30) the typical miseries surrounding death.
» Old-age, severe disease, and death are bad enough in themselves but they also cause pain to
loved ones who see the suffering condition.

Hmmm . . . something to think about . . .

The material nature provides the living entity with much more opportunitiy to suffer than to
enjoy. For example, how many different ways can you give pain to your foot compared to how
many ways you can give it pleasure?
Even if we don't realize personally that the material world is a place of suffering, Lord Krsna
certifies it in Bhagavad-gita 8.15 (duhkhalayam).

Drawbacks of material happiness

is simply a relief from suffering

is temporary and limited
is based on envy and is therefore unreal
is nothing compared to what we are missing
makes us attached
keeps us bound to material life and the bodily concept of life
is never as good as one expects
8: The Creation

A brief summary
» In one corner of the spiritual sky, a "cloud" covers one portion of the brahmajyoti. This
is where the Causal Ocean is (also known as the Viraja River).
» Maha-Vishnu lies down in the Causal Ocean. At this time, the material nature is in a
neutral state (pradhana).
» Maha-Vishnu (through His Siva expansion) glances over the material nature,
impregnating her with living entities, and agitating her into activity; she transforms into
mahat-tattva, the active state.
» The mahat-tattva produces the various elements, starting with the false ego.
» The innumerable universes emanate from Maha-Vishnu's pores like bubbles.
» Garbhodakasayi-Vishnu expands from Maha-Vishnu into each of the universes.
» Garbhodakasayi-Vishnu creates within the universe another ocean, upon which He rests
with the help of Sesa-naga. He produces the first living entity, Lord Brahma, from a lotus
flower that sprouts from His navel.
» Lord Brahma creates the various planetary systems, the sun, the moon, etc., and
species of life. The living entities obtain bodies according to their previous karma.

Mahat-tattva
» The aggregate of all the ingredients for the material creation, including the conditioned
souls.
» The germinating place for all the varieties of creation, starting with the false ego.
» Material nature's primal state.
» The shadow of pure (spiritual) consciousness
» The junction between pure spiritual existence and material existence.

False ego (ahankara)

» The binding force of material existence.
» Causes one to identify with the body and mind, to think oneself a product of matter, and
to see oneself as the controller and enjoyer.
» The basic principle of the material world and its activities.

Mind (mana)
» Basic functions are sankalpa (accepting) and vikalpa (rejecting), which are
manifestations of material attachment.
» Storehouse of all knowledge, experiences, all perceptions
» Simultaneously like an attorney pleading the case of the senses and a courtroom within
which the judge (intelligence) works.

Intelligence (buddhi)
» The power of discrimination and making distinctions
» The ability to utilise and synthesise knowledge (experience) into usable forms and reach
conclusions for action.
» The power to understand the nature of an object.
» It figures out plans and discriminates — what is to be done and what not to be done,
based on time, place and circumstance

Knowledge-acquiring senses (jnanendriya)

» Enable the living being to relate to this world.
» They cover the original spiritual senses, but have no power of perception without the
spiritual senses.
» Feed information about the material world through sense objects (taste, form, touch,
sound, and aroma) to the mind
» Always active and attracted to sense objects like a magnet to iron; thus desires for
sense gratification flow into the mind.
» Have to be controlled through devotional service, snakes with fangs removed.
Sense objects (indriyartha)
» Sound, touch, form, taste, and aroma are the subltle forms of ether, air, fire, water, and
earth respectively.

Gross elements (maha-bhuta)

» Ether is the three-dimensional space that accommodates the existence of everything in
the universe. Radio and television transmissions propagate through ether.
» Air, water and earth represent gas, liquid, and solid respectively.
» Fire represents all effulgent emanations, electricity, and the entire electromagnetic
spectrum.
» Air exists in a subtler form in the body and contributes to its proper functioning. A subtle
form of fire in the body enables digestion.

Time (kala)
» The twenty-fifth element. The mixing element
» Represents the presence of the Supreme Lord
» Causes fear of death

The soul and the Supersoul are sometimes counted as the twenty-sixth and twenty-
seventh elements.

The hierarchy of the bodily components

The senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still
higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence. (Bhagavad-
gita 3.42)

8.1: Universal Time

The four ages (Yugas): The four yugas equal one yuga-cycle (divya-yuga)

1. Satya-yuga: 1,728,000 years

2. Treta-yuga: 1,296,000 years
3. Dvapara-yuga: 864,000 years
4. Kali-yuga: 432,000 years

An age of Manu (manvantara)

The life of Manu = 71.35 yuga-cycles i.e. 308,232,000 years

We are now in the 28th yuga-cycle of the current Manu, Vaivasvata.
Fourteen Manus rule in one day of Brahma
Vaivasvata is the seventh Manu in this day of Brahma.

A day of Brahma

= 1000 yuga-cycles
One year of Brahma = 360,000 yuga-cycles
The life of Brahma = 36 million yuga-cycles
= the life of the universe
= 311,040,000,000,000 years.
9: Perceiving Krishna in His Creation

According to Bhagavad-gita, Krishna is...

...the essence of everything:

» the taste in water
» the sound in ether
» the ability in man
» the heat in fire
» the life of all that lives
» the intelligence of the intelligent
» the prowess of all powerful men
» the original fragrance of the earth
» the light of the sun and the moon
» the strength of the strong.

...the very best of everything:

» of lights He is the sun
» among stars He is the moon
» of the sages He is Vyasa
» of the senses He is the mind
» of vibrations he is transcendental Om
» of sacrifices He is japa
» among men He is the monarch
» of science He is the science of the self
» among logicians He is the conclusive truth
» of seasons He is flower-bearing spring
» of weapons He is the thunderbolt
» among cows He is the surabhi
» of fishes He is the shark
» of bodies of water He is the ocean
» of immovable things He is the Himalayas
» of wielders of weapons He is Rama
» of those seeking victory He is morality
» of the demigods He is Indra
» of secret things He is silence
» of flowing rivers He is the Ganges
» among lawkeepers He is Yamaraja
» among the demons He is Prahlada
» among subduers He is time
» among beasts He is the lion
» among birds He is Garuda
» of creators He is Brahma

Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My
splendor. . . . With a single fragment of Myself, I pervade and support this entire universe.
(Bhagavad-gita 10.41–2)

Universal Form
One can percieve Krishna's virat-rupa (universal form) everywhere in the creation. This is
a highly conceptualised form originally intended for impersonalists and is a different virat-
rupa to the one that was shown to Arjuna on the battlefield.

» Hills/mountains represent His bones

» Physical sound represents His sense of hearing
» Material aroma represents His sense of smell
» Trees represent the hairs on His body
» The clouds represent the hair on His head
» Day and night represent His eyelids
» Religion represents His breast
» Irreligion represents His back
» The ocean represents His waist
» Rivers represent His veins
» Twilight represents His dress
» The air represents His breath
» The ten directions represent His ears
» The blazing fire represents His mouth
» The sun and moon represent His eyes
» Alluring material energy represents His smile
» The passing ages represent His movements
» The horse, mule, camel represent His nails
» Varieties of birds represent His artistry
» The brahmanas represent His face
» The ksatriyas represent His arms
» The vaisyas represent His thighs
» The sudras represent His feet
10: The Three Modes of Material Nature

The three modes of material nature — goodness, passion and ignorance — are three
categories that describe the primary characteristics of the external energy. Material nature
consists of these modes.

The broad pallete of material characteristics (including all species of life) derive from
various mixtures of the modes, just as all possible colours are mixtures of the three
primary colours.

In the material world, the modes never exist in a pure state. They are always mixed to
some degree or another.

They compete with one another for superiority, sometimes one particular mode gaining
prominence over the other two.

The particular mixture of the modes comprising one's body determines one's behaviour,
speech, and state of mind. Everyone is conditioned by the modes they have acquired.

The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities
that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of material nature. (Bhagavad-gita
3.27)

They influence one's particular kind of faith, what one believes, and how one sees the
world.

Thus the material modes of nature are a significant factor in shaping existence in the
material world.

Krishna dedicates the entire 14th chapter of the Bhagavad-gita to explaining the modes of
the material nature and He continues this theme in the 17th and 18th chapters.

» Why is understanding this knowledge so important for spiritual life?

» Why does Krishna (Bhagavad-gita 14.1) call this knowledge of the modes of material
nature "the best of all knowledge, knowing which all the sages have attained the supreme
perfection"?
» How is it that (Bhagavad-gita 14.2) "By becoming fixed in this knowledge, one can
attain to the transcendental nature..."?

In his purport to the first verse, Srila Prabhupada says, "Now, in this chapter, the
Supreme Personality explains what those modes of nature are, how they act, how they
bind, and how they give liberation."
10.1: The The Law of Karma

What is karma?
» Literally means "work" or "activity"
» The law of karma means for every action there is a reaction (the law of cause and
effect)
» The pain or pleasure we cause others will sooner or later return back to us.
Therefore whatever pain or pleasure we are experiencing now is a result of our previous
activities.

Stages of karma
There are various stages both in cause and effect. Each effect is also a cause for future
effect.

1. Bija (seed): Desire (to enjoy and control separate from Krishna in various ways)
2. Kutastha (bud): Decision (thinking, feeling, and willing-in the mind, coming to the
decision to perform a particular activity.)
3. Phalonmukha (fruit): Activity (performing it)
4. Prarabdha (harvest): Reaction (happiness and distress)

Karma is administered by the Supersoul

» He knows everything-past, present, and future
» He keeps record of our karmic accounts
» He arranges for the particular body and circumstances we get in life
» He makes sure that we get the karmic reactions we deserve by
1. giving us the knowledge, forgetfulness, remembrance, and inspiration that will guide us
in the required direction; and
2. arranging other appropriate circumstances externally.
» He awards the living beings what they desire and deserve.

Three divisions of action and subsequent reaction (karma)

Karma
» Pious work that adheres to Vedic principles
» Elevates one to higher status, a good birth or life on the heavenly planets.

Vikarma
» Work that contravenes Vedic injuctions; sinful
» Produces negative reactions; lower birth

Akarma
» Not a negation of work, but of reactions; i.e. work with no reactions. Work done not for
oneself but for Krishna
» Gives liberation and establishes one in loving devotional service
10.2: Destiny and Free Will

Is the living entity in the material world controlled or free?

Are his activities pre-determined or does he choose them himself?
Philosophers, theologians, and scientists throughout the centuries have pondered and
discussed this age-old theme. People generally like to think that they are totally free.
Think of anything you know or have heard that supports the idea of the living entity being
controlled, even when he thinks he is free.
Why wouldn't it be correct to say that we are completely controlled and have absolutely
no free will?

» We wouldn't be responsible for our own actions and get karma (animals don't
accumulate karma, because they cannot make independent decisions).
» That would make God whimsical for sending some living entities to enjoy in heaven and
other to suffer in hell.
» Krishna is supremely independent; His parts and parcels are therefore also minutely
independent.
» If we had no free will, how could we surrender? And how could there be any love?
What is our freedom? How does our free will manifest in daily life?

Here are a few examples:

» Following Krishna's instructions or not (We have the free will to submit ourselves to the
control of material nature or Krishna's instructions.)
» Choosing to do good in moments of moral dilemma
» A person may become attracted to a certain mode and thus associate with it and thus
develop that mode more within himself.

10.3: Reincarnation

As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new
material bodies, giving up old and useless ones. (Bhagavad-gita 2.22)

Definitions
Re-incarnation: the incarnation or embodiment of a soul in a new body after it has left the
old one at death
Transmigration: the passing (of souls) from one body to another at death.

Basic Description
» The human being's activities create karmic reactions or karma-phala (lit. the fruit of his
work). His desires, thoughts, words, and actions in life produce a total impression on the
mind.
» As long as the living entity still has material desires, Krishna continues to give him
another opportunity to fulfill them.
» After death, the living being gets another body according to his desire, the total
impression on the mind, and his karma-phala.
» The 8,400,000 species are created with different sets of senses to fulfill the different
desires of the living entity.
» Karma-phala, which determines the path one takes through various species or to other
human bodies, is only accrued in the human form of life.
» The soul uses up his accumulated karma-phala as he passes through the non-human
species.
» Eventually, the soul returns to the human platform, where he gets a new opportunity to
carve out a new destiny.
» This cycle continues until the living entity becomes free of material desire, which holds
him in the material world.
Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain
without fail. (Bhagavad-gita 8.6)
11: Death

The time of death is a crucial moment for the human being, because this is when his next
destination is determined. This is the moment when he has the opportunity to go back to
Godhead. Everything in a devotee's life is leading up to this point, is a preparation for this
one major exam. As it is said, "Whatever we do in life will be tested at the time of death."

The atheist and the devotee each perceive death differently, just as a kitten and a mouse
each perceive the jaws of a mother cat differently.

The jaws of a mother cat represent shelter to the kitten, but they represent a horrible end
to the mouse. Similarly, when Krishna comes in the form of death, it is the ultimate defeat
to the atheist, but the devotee accepts it as Krishna coming to take him back.
11.1: Liberation

After trying to enjoy in the material world for a long time, the living being may 23ealize
that there is nothing but different kinds of suffering and want to attain liberation from
material existence. Liberation actually means freedom from the influence of the illusory
material energy.

The five kinds of liberation (mukti)

» Sayujya: one with God
» Salokya: same residence
» Sarsti: same opulence
» Sarupya: same bodily features
» Samipya: association
Four of these types of liberation are meant for the devotees and one (sayujya) is meant
for the impersonalists. The four Vaisnava kinds of liberation bring one to the Vaikuntha
planets.

Qualities of a liberated soul

» Experiences a higher taste
» Never laments
» Finds satisfaction in the self alone
» Joyful
» Mind is established in sameness and equanimity
» Unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it
» Remains neutral, unwavering, and undisturbed through the reactions of the material
qualities
» Detached
» Is steady, situated equally well in praise and blame, honor and dishonor
» Not disturbed by distress or elated when there is happiness
» Controls the mind, senses, and speech with determination
» Withdraws his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell
» Free from attraction, hatred, attachment, fear, anger, false pride, lust, desires for sense
gratification and proprietorship
» Peaceful
» He is equally disposed toward every living entity
» Treats alike both friend and enemy
» Looks upon a lump of earth, a stone and a piece of gold with an equal eye
» Unaffected by the incessant flow of desires.

Undoubtedly one can attain liberation on the impersonal path, 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." (Bhagavad-gita 12.5)
"But those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and being devoted to Me
without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, having
fixed their minds upon Me, O son of Prtha-for them I am the swift deliverer from the
ocean of birth and death." (Bhagavad-gita 12.6-7)
Being the Lord of illusory energy, Krishna can order this insurmountable energy to release
the conditioned soul.
"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to
overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it."
(Bhagavad-gita 7.14)
"One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once
transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman."
(Bhagavad-gita 14.26)