Sri Krishna Chaitanya part2
Fri, 02/01/2008 - 15:40 — admin
Just as a drop of water is qualitatively the same as the entire ocean and yet quantitatively different, so also is the soul’s relationship with the Supreme Soul. Just as the drop of water can never become the entire ocean, but always remains part of it, the soul is part and parcel of God and always remains as such. The infinitesimal spiritual spark never becomes God.
In establishing this point, Sri Krishna Chaitanya further developed the analogy given by Sri Ramanuja, comparing the relationship between the living entities and God to the relationship between the sun and the rays of sunshine. He declared that there is no meaning to the sun globe without the sun’s rays, and vice versa. Therefore, they cannot be considered separately, but must be understood in connection with each other. Being emanations from the sun, the individual rays of sunshine are qualitatively one with the sun. The sun possesses heat and light, and, to a proportionate degree, each ray of sunshine also possesses heat and light. The quantity of heat and light within a single ray, however, can never be compared to the quantity within the sun; thus, quantitatively, the sun’s rays can never be equal or superior to the sun. The relationship between the jivas and the Supreme Soul is also fixed, declared Sri Chaitanya. The individual soul can never equal or surpass the Supreme Soul in potency or degree of opulence.
The soundness of Chaitanya’s philosophical viewpoint and the sweetness of the Holy Name which he constantly sang and chanted proved to be formidable weapons with which he slew the opinions of the propounders of impersonalism and atheism. Even the foremost representatives of Sripad Shankaracharya succumbed to his brilliance and devotional charm and became his disciples, admitting that Shankara’s version of Vedanta-sutra obscured the real goal of life, namely, pure love for God.24
KARMASri Krishna Chaitanya maintained, however, that the living entity is simultaneously different from and yet one with God.22 The living entities are one with and yet different from the Absolute Truth. The key to this apparent paradox lies in understanding not only the essence, but also the position of the individual soul. The individual is pure spirit soul, as is the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore, the essence is the same. The living entity is thus qualitatively one with or nondifferent from God. Nevertheless, the living entity is only an infinitesimal spiritual spark. Even in the liberated state, her power remains limited. Therefore, although she is one with God in quality, quantitatively speaking she is different.23
According to yoga, every action, good or bad, produces some karmic reaction. Actions that are “bad” create bad karmic reactions. A person who engages in heinous criminal actions or who lives simply like an animal, exploiting others, will have to eat the bitter fruit of such actions in the future.
Science of Identity Foundation – Chris Butler Speaks
Just as a drop of water is qualitatively the same as the entire ocean and yet quantitatively different, so also is the soul’s relationship with the Supreme Soul. Just as the drop of water can never become the entire ocean, but always remains part of it, the soul is part and parcel of God and always remains as such. The infinitesimal spiritual spark never becomes God.
In establishing this point, Sri Krishna Chaitanya further developed the analogy given by Sri Ramanuja, comparing the relationship between the living entities and God to the relationship between the sun and the rays of sunshine. He declared that there is no meaning to the sun globe without the sun’s rays, and vice versa. Therefore, they cannot be considered separately, but must be understood in connection with each other. Being emanations from the sun, the individual rays of sunshine are qualitatively one with the sun. The sun possesses heat and light, and, to a proportionate degree, each ray of sunshine also possesses heat and light. The quantity of heat and light within a single ray, however, can never be compared to the quantity within the sun; thus, quantitatively, the sun’s rays can never be equal or superior to the sun. The relationship between the jivas and the Supreme Soul is also fixed, declared Sri Chaitanya. The individual soul can never equal or surpass the Supreme Soul in potency or degree of opulence.
The soundness of Chaitanya’s philosophical viewpoint and the sweetness of the Holy Name which he constantly sang and chanted proved to be formidable weapons with which he slew the opinions of the propounders of impersonalism and atheism. Even the foremost representatives of Sripad Shankaracharya succumbed to his brilliance and devotional charm and became his disciples, admitting that Shankara’s version of Vedanta-sutra obscured the real goal of life, namely, pure love for God.24