The Gaudiya Vaishnava Concept of the World part2
Sun, 02/10/2008 - 18:50 — admin
Let me sum up the Vaishnava understanding for you. The Supreme Brahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although innumerable energies emanate from Him, He is always the same and never undergoes transformation. The cosmic manifestation is a transformation of His energy; it is a manifestation of His inferior, external energy. It is thus known as a by-product of the Supreme Lord. To say that the cosmic manifestation is a transformation of the Lord’s energy is not to say that the Lord Himself has transformed. As is described in the Ishopanishad, although so many complete units-like the cosmic manifestation-are emanating from Him, He remains the complete balance, the complete whole.38 Since the cosmic manifestation is created by the Supreme Lord, its existence must be understood to be factual, and not simply apparent.
Sri Krishna Chaitanya was very critical of Shankaracharya’s commentary on Vedanta-sutra. In fact, he warned his followers that one’s life could be ruined by hearing Shankara’s indirect explanations.39 Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami is also very strong in his criticism of Shankaracharya’s explanations. He declares that if a person follows the commentary of Sripad Shankaracharya, his spiritual life will be spoiled and his mission in life unfulfilled.
MICHAEL: Those seem like very sweeping and harsh statements. I’m afraid I can’t understand them even in the least. Is there some philosophical basis for such bitter criticism? Or is it just the result of sectarian bickering?
If a person sees himself as the Supreme Enjoyer, he will automatically live a life of exploitation. He will not respect others or the environment, nor will he care for the well-being of others. He will lead a hedonistic life of unrestricted sense enjoyment, lording over everything and everyone. Although human in form, he will be no more than an animal who lives by the philosophy “might makes right.”To prop up the statement I have just quoted, Shankaracharya was forced to advance Theory that the world is false-simply an illusion. The Vaishnavas accept Vedanta-sutra as it is, however, and know the cosmic manifestation to be real, although it is certainly temporary.
Science of Identity Foundation – Siddhaswarupananda
Let me sum up the Vaishnava understanding for you. The Supreme Brahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although innumerable energies emanate from Him, He is always the same and never undergoes transformation. The cosmic manifestation is a transformation of His energy; it is a manifestation of His inferior, external energy. It is thus known as a by-product of the Supreme Lord. To say that the cosmic manifestation is a transformation of the Lord’s energy is not to say that the Lord Himself has transformed. As is described in the Ishopanishad, although so many complete units-like the cosmic manifestation-are emanating from Him, He remains the complete balance, the complete whole.38 Since the cosmic manifestation is created by the Supreme Lord, its existence must be understood to be factual, and not simply apparent.
Sri Krishna Chaitanya was very critical of Shankaracharya’s commentary on Vedanta-sutra. In fact, he warned his followers that one’s life could be ruined by hearing Shankara’s indirect explanations.39 Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami is also very strong in his criticism of Shankaracharya’s explanations. He declares that if a person follows the commentary of Sripad Shankaracharya, his spiritual life will be spoiled and his mission in life unfulfilled.
MICHAEL: Those seem like very sweeping and harsh statements. I’m afraid I can’t understand them even in the least. Is there some philosophical basis for such bitter criticism? Or is it just the result of sectarian bickering?