Shri Pushpanjali: A Triumph Over Impersonalism, Part 6
BY: PATITA PAVANA DASA
Jun 25, 2012 — BLAGOEVGRAD, BULGARIA (SUN) —
KRISHNA DASA AND NIRVISHESHA
The Banyan Tree
39) Do you really think that the shapeless can create shape? Does the non-moving generate motion? Can nothing create something? You say that to become nothing is to become everything, but these two conflicting terms cannot find a harmonious meeting place in the infinitesimal living particle or spirit soul. The only void that exists anywhere is the void found in the empty heads of those who try to live without Krishna consciousness. What to speak of becoming everything, they condemn themselves to selfish obscurity and sinful degradation. The living entity may never become nothing, but the mayavadi may indeed become as good as nothing!
40) The Biblical saying, "Man was made in the image of God," is an eternal truth. As a glove possesses a five-fingered form to fit the hand, so the body has a head, two arms, two legs and so forth because in its original spiritual identity, the soul also has this shape. And Krishna's lovely form, though human-like, is the reservoir of spiritual bliss for all His devotees.
41) This is confirmed in the first verse of Shri Brahma Samhita, wherein Lord Brahma says, "Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He has a transcendental body of eternity, knowledge, and bliss." Ishwarah paramah knshna. Sat-chit-ananda vigrahah.
42) You have given the wonderful example of a mirror. Does not everything reflected within a mirror have its real existence outside the mirror? If it did not exist outside the mirror, it could not exist as a reflection within the mirror. Similarly the existence of form and shape in the material world
only serve to prove the existence of form and shape in the Spiritual Sky. Form, as we see it here in this material world, is a perverted reflection of the spiritual forms of unconditioned and liberated entities who dwell in the ever-blissful abode of the Supreme Lord. The only difference is that forms here are material and temporary, whereas forms in the spiritual sky—whether people, trees or animals—are anti-material and eternal.
43) In the fifteenth chapter, first verse of Bhagavad Gita, the example of a banyan tree is given. Now, a banyan tree on the bank of a lake is also seen reflected in the water. The actual tree top marks the lowest point as seen in the reflection. Similarly, he who artificially attempts at imitating the topmost expression of feeling in the Spiritual Sky, devotees' love for Krishna, only achieves the depths of degradation. Love affairs of this world are but lusty affairs. True love is not known here. Real love is found only in serving the lotus feet of Lord Shri Hari and His votaries.
44) Mayavadis are fond of saying brahma satyam jagat mithya: "truth is found in spirit, whereas the material world is false." We Vaishnavas do not hold with this theory. The actual truth is that this world is not false, but temporary. The elements of this world, though material—or composed of the Lord's inferior energy—have real meaning when used in the service of Shri Krishna. Was not this world also created by God? If the creator is real, then the creation must also be real. Therefore, active service unto Bhagavan Shri Krishna, bhakti-yoga, may also be performed while in this body and in this world. Shrila Prabhupada says, "Spiritual plurality is understood by those who are devotees of the Lord."
Because mayavadis deny material as well as spiritual reality, they are in essence saying that everything is false except their nonsense theories. Speculate as much as you like, O Nirvishesh, but you can never prove your "void" to be a reality.
