1. God (Krsna) is the eternally-existing fountainhead or source of everything that be. Everything emanates from him, just like sunlight from the sun.
2. As the sunlight is the energy of
the sun, so everything emanating from Krsna is technically called His
energy.
3. Krsna's energies, though unlimited
in variety, can be divided into three main categories: interior,
marginal, and exterior. His interior and marginal energies are both
composed of living spiritual beings, who all have three properties,
namely eternal existence (sat);
consciousness, awareness, or knowledge (cit);
and bliss (ananda).
His external energy, on the other hand, takes the shape of various
material elements, some of which are termed "subtle" and
some "gross," but all of which are simply inert matter
until activated by the Lord and the living spiritual entities. The
subtlest (most difficult to detect) of all material elements is the
false ego that makes those of us who are covered by it identify with
our temporary material bodies and feel like we're independent
islands, unconnected to God, who in reality is the very source of our
existence and our eternally loyal, patient, and caring best friend
and parent. The next-subtlest material element is the rational
intellect, which analyzes information in search of understanding or
assesses options in search of the best course of action. The third
is the subjective mind or emotional psyche, which is in charge of
deciding what we do and don't like/enjoy/appreciate (we Hare Krishnas
call it the mind). Then there are the gross elements: ether, air,
fire, water, and earth. I like how Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, in "The Nature of the Self: A Gaudiya Vaisnava Understanding",
"translated" these traditional terms into ones more
intelligible to modern scientific minds by proposing that earth =
solids, water = liquids, air = gases, fire = radiant energy and ether
= space.
4.
What is the difference between the interior and marginal energies of
Krsna, which are both made up of living spirit? His interior energy
is His eternally great saktis or
powers, who can never become covered by the material elements or
influenced by the illusory world-view caused by such a covering,
whereas the marginal energy is made up of multitudes of
infinitesimally tiny spiritual sparks (jivas),
who are capable of becoming so covered. Those of us who live here in
the realm of matter belong to this category of covered jivas.
5. Each and every one of the
innumerable jivas in existence has a unique and eternally
individual spiritual personality, and a similarly individual innate
relationship with God that is based on his or her unique nature.
6. The best purpose for which we can
use our human life is to uncover and reawaken our memory of this
special relationship that we are supposed to be enjoying with God,
because forgetting about it and looking elsewhere for happiness is
the source of all the futility and suffering that is to be found
within this world.
Why is that so? What are the processes by which this emancipating and fulfilling self-realization can be attained? And how did we come to be covered in the first place? Why are we here in the material world -- and why does it often seem to be such a nasty place? Why doesn't God make it perfect here? Who is God -- what is He like? Where, how and with whom does He live? What are the different kinds of relationships we can have with Him? These are just a few of the questions I'd like to address in future blog posts. Stay tuned! I'm trying to make sure I post something here at least once a month. :)
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