The Gaudiya Vaishnava Concept of Ignorance
Sun, 02/10/2008 - 18:20 — admin
TEACHER: For the Vaishnavas to admit that the living beings are influenced by the material energy is no contradiction. In the achintyabhedabheda philosophy of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, it is quite clearly stated that the living being is qualitatively the same as the Supreme Lord but quantitatively different. The individual living beings are parts and parcels of the Supreme Being. As minute spiritual sparks, they possess the same qualities as the Supreme Living Being, but in a minute proportion. The Supreme Being is powerful and each of the individual living beings is also powerful, but the quantity of power is different. The Lord is infinite and therefore His power is also infinite. The individual beings are infinitesimal, however, so their power is not infinite; it is limited. Therefore, it is neither surprising nor contradictory to hear that the individual living beings can be affected or covered by ignorance, whereas the Supreme Living Being cannot. Shankaracharya attempted to describe maya, or ignorance, as an apparent reality, but the Vaishnavas accept ignorance to be an actual reality-even though it is a temporary one. The Vaishnavas understand ignorance to be an energy or potency of the Supreme Lord. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita, wherein the Supreme Lord refers to the illusory energy as “maya, illusory energy.”25
The deluding energy cannot affect the Supreme Personality of Godhead because it is subordinate to Him, but it can-and does-affect the individual living beings.26
MICHAEL: What you’re saying, then, is that maya is very powerful, but not more powerful than the Supreme Lord. Although the individual souls are influenced by maya, maya does not influence the Supreme Lord.
TEACHER: Yes, that’s a correct understanding. In this sense, the Supreme Lord can be compared to the sun and ignorance can be compared to a cloud. The Mayavadi statement that the Supreme Lord has been covered by ignorance is a result of imperfect vision.
This lack of understanding can be compared to that of a person who says, during foul weather, that the clouds have covered the sun. From his limited point of view that may appear to be the case, but actually the clouds are not covering the sun, they are covering his vision of the sun. The sun is always above the clouds, or beyond the clouds. Because we are very small, the clouds may cover us, or cover our vision, but they can never cover the sun. In fact, a cloud cannot even approach the sun-it would be instantly evaporated. Similarly, ignorance cannot approach the Supreme Lord. It has no effect on Him.
Let me give another example. In the Chaitanya Charitamrita, Sri Krishna Chaitanya compares the relationship between the living entities and the Supreme Lord to that of a fire and the sparks of the fire.27
The negative social results of a society populated primarily by hedonistic people should be obvious to anyone. A society of self-centered, animalistic people who have no other interest than their own sense enjoyment cannot be at all peaceful or progressive—either materially or spiritually.The Gaudiya Vaishnava Concept of Ignorance
Science of Identity Foundation – Chris Butler Speaks
TEACHER: For the Vaishnavas to admit that the living beings are influenced by the material energy is no contradiction. In the achintyabhedabheda philosophy of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, it is quite clearly stated that the living being is qualitatively the same as the Supreme Lord but quantitatively different. The individual living beings are parts and parcels of the Supreme Being. As minute spiritual sparks, they possess the same qualities as the Supreme Living Being, but in a minute proportion. The Supreme Being is powerful and each of the individual living beings is also powerful, but the quantity of power is different. The Lord is infinite and therefore His power is also infinite. The individual beings are infinitesimal, however, so their power is not infinite; it is limited. Therefore, it is neither surprising nor contradictory to hear that the individual living beings can be affected or covered by ignorance, whereas the Supreme Living Being cannot. Shankaracharya attempted to describe maya, or ignorance, as an apparent reality, but the Vaishnavas accept ignorance to be an actual reality-even though it is a temporary one. The Vaishnavas understand ignorance to be an energy or potency of the Supreme Lord. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita, wherein the Supreme Lord refers to the illusory energy as “maya, illusory energy.”25
The deluding energy cannot affect the Supreme Personality of Godhead because it is subordinate to Him, but it can-and does-affect the individual living beings.26
MICHAEL: What you’re saying, then, is that maya is very powerful, but not more powerful than the Supreme Lord. Although the individual souls are influenced by maya, maya does not influence the Supreme Lord.
TEACHER: Yes, that’s a correct understanding. In this sense, the Supreme Lord can be compared to the sun and ignorance can be compared to a cloud. The Mayavadi statement that the Supreme Lord has been covered by ignorance is a result of imperfect vision.
This lack of understanding can be compared to that of a person who says, during foul weather, that the clouds have covered the sun. From his limited point of view that may appear to be the case, but actually the clouds are not covering the sun, they are covering his vision of the sun. The sun is always above the clouds, or beyond the clouds. Because we are very small, the clouds may cover us, or cover our vision, but they can never cover the sun. In fact, a cloud cannot even approach the sun-it would be instantly evaporated. Similarly, ignorance cannot approach the Supreme Lord. It has no effect on Him.
Let me give another example. In the Chaitanya Charitamrita, Sri Krishna Chaitanya compares the relationship between the living entities and the Supreme Lord to that of a fire and the sparks of the fire.27