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Scientific Spirituality... and impersonalism
Dear Ray
I visited the web site you recommended and it's very nicely done and is based
on the Vedic philosophy. But it's impersonalism. There are two camps within the
Vedic system, impersonalists and personalists. The impersonalists don't accept
individuality as real or eternal. They say ultimately everything is one and our
individual existence is an illusion... They don't accept any supreme person or
God. They say I and the supreme are one...
Every "I" is the same "I", which is the Cosmic "I".
The only difference is the Subject pattern held as point of
reference to experience other patterns.
Due to Subject >< Object polarisation, the subject pattern
identifies itself as "I am", having the impression of being
separated from the rest of the Universe, which is it's illusion.
(quoted from the Scientific Spirituality page)
So our realization is different:
nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam
eko bahunam yo vidhati kaman
"The Supreme Lord is eternal and the living beings are eternal. The Supreme
Lord is cognisant and the living beings are cognisant. The difference is that
the Supreme Lord is supplying all the necessities of life for the many other
living entities." (Katha Upanasid 2.2.13)
So we are "made in the image of God" as the Christian Bible says. Our form and
God's form is the same however here in the material world we are covered with a
material body. Krishna does not have a material body, nor do we in our original
liberated condition in the spiritual world. We actually have a spiritual body
like Krishna's but in the material world it's covered by a material body.
We exist eternally as individual persons and God also exists eternally as an
individual person. The difference is God is great and we are small. God is
unlimited and we are limited. The quality is the same but the quantity is
differernt.
If everything is one and there's no individuality or personality and no God as
the Scientific Spirituality page claims then ours is a very bleak future. If we
analyse our lives now and search out the source of pleasure it comes from our
individuality and our relationship with other individuals. Without
individuality there is no scope for any activity or relationships and without
activity and relationships there is no "rasa" (taste or mellow). But the soul
is eternally searching out this rasa, here in the material world we are trying
to find it in the perverted reflection of mundane relationships and mental
speculation, but the real spiritual rasa is with Krishna, God. When we
reestablish our original, eternal relationship with God then we can taste real
transcendental bliss and that is what we are looking for...
In this age it is a very simple thing to achieve.
nama cintamanih krsnas
caitanya-rasa-vigraha
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh
"The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all
spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all
pleasure. Krishna's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental
mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less
powerful than Krishna Himself. Since Krishna's name is not contaminated by the
material qualities, and there is no question of its being involved with maya,
Krishna's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by
the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna
Himself are completely spiritual." (Padma Purana)
tasmat sankirtanam visnor
jagan-mangalam amhasam
mahatam api kauravya
viddhy aikantika-niskrtam
"My dear King, the chanting of the holy names of the Lord is able to uproot
even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the
sankirtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the universe. Please try
to understand this so that others will take it seriously..."
Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
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Chant Hare Krishna and be happy! All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!