KRISHNA ESSAY! Question 1, Part a [For Reference Read Sword and Flute Pgs. 66-73] (I) Brahman Paramatman Bhagavan Impersonal

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KRISHNA ESSAY! Question 1, Part A [for reference read Sword and Flute pgs. 66-73] (i) Brahman Paramatman Bhagavan Impersonal side The Self The personal god Nirguna aspect! Dwells in matter A body with form No form, an “it” Dwells inside all universes, and inside Not made out of matter, but made 3rd ranking each individual being out of being, consciousness, and Celebrated by Siva ascetics Activates and supports life, resides in BLISS [bliss is the most important] The impersonal circle of light that the hearts of all beings in nature 2 arms, humanlike shape radiates Krishna’s body Supreme godhead Nonmaterial Easy to love because he is palpable, personal (ii) The unmanifest cosmic lila of Krishna He’s constantly dancing in the unmanifest lila This is his eternal dance Svarupa-sakti Krishna operates on a level where he is beyond brahman Hladini-sakti principle of bliss [ananda] Krishna revels in his own bliss Radha is the most concentrated expression of Krishna’s bliss Gopis are his lesser blissful impulses (iii) The relationship between the unmanifest cosmic lila and the manifest earthly lila He unfolds his lila on earth when he descends on earth in 3,000 BC Appeared as a cowherd with his saktis, who appear as earthly cow maidens [they become the models for ordinary humans] Cosmic Lila Earthly Lila Beyond the quality-less-ness brahman Manifest Has the same qualities as the earthly lila Historical You can’t travel there, you already are there, you just Earthly braj [historical site where Krishna was] haven’t realized it yet Proof that the cosmic lila exists Unmanifest This is the reason that people picture themselves as gopis Eternal This is the reason why all Gaudiya Vaisnavas’ practices are Foundation for everything based on myths of Gopala Krishna All reality is based on this place How are these two dimensions related to Vraja Unmanifest the transcendent Vraja, the abstract world where Krishna dances eternally Manifest site where he unfolds his saktis.

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