The Supreme Absolute Truth - Part 1 Date: 2017-10-14 Author: Narahari Krishna das Hare Krishna Prabhujis/Mathajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Gurudeva. The Vedic literature points out that the ultimate aim of human life is to inquire into the Supreme Absolute Truth. And one of the important terms used in the Vedic literature to denote the Supreme Absolute Truth is ‘Brahman’. The scriptures like Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita are called brahma vidya. Any person who is engaged in the pursuit of Absolute Truth is called Brahmavadi (a transcendentalist). The word brahmachari refers to a person who is engaged in realizing Brahman, Absolute truth (yat ācarati brahma tat brahmacār). And one who has realized Brahman (Absolute Truth) is called Brahmana (brahma jānātīti brāhmaṇaḥ). And a rishi who has realized Absolute Truth is called brahma rishi. Srimad Bhagavatam calls realization of Absolute truth as brahma darshanam. The Vedanta sutra written by Vyasadeva is called Brahma sutra because it talks about Brahman, the Absolute Truth. The first sutra of brahma sutras is athāto brahma jijñāsā - "Now therefore inquire into Brahman (The Absolute truth)". Apart from the Supreme Absolute Truth, the word Brahman can also denote the living entity (jivatma) and the material nature. Additionally, the word Brahman also denotes the brahmajyoti (effulgence emanating from the Lord’s transcendental form). The Lord Himself says in Bhagavad Gita 14.27 brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham- I am the basis of the impersonal brahmajyoti. Also the term ‘Brahman’ denotes Vedas which expound the Absolute Truth. Based on the context in which this word occurs, Brahman will denote any of the above. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained the term Brahman in clear terms in his conversations with great scholars in varanasi like Prakashananda Saraswati as follows. ‘brahma’-śabde mukhya arthe kahe — ‘bhagavān’ cid-aiśvarya-paripūrṇa, anūrdhva-samāna According to direct understanding, the Absolute Truth is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has all spiritual opulences. No one can be equal to or greater than Him." - (CC Adi 7.111) Srila Prabhupada explains this in the purport to Caitanya caritamrita “Although the living entities or material nature are sometimes described as Brahman, Parabrahman - the Supreme, the greatest of all Brahmans - is still Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is full with all opulence, and as such He possesses all riches, all strength, all reputation, all knowledge, all beauty and all renunciation. He is eternally a person and eternally supreme.” Lord Caitanya explained that Brahman,the Supreme Personality of Godhead is Lord Krishna as follows. brahma-śabde kahe pūrṇa svayaṁ bhagavān svayaṁ bhagavān kṛṣṇa, — śāstrera pramāṇa The word 'Brahman' indicates the complete Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is Shri Krishna. That is the verdict of all Vedic literature. - (CC. Madhya Lila. 6.147) There is an interesting incident in the life of Srila Prabhupada in this regard. Once a person from brahma samaj approached Srila Prabhupada and asked a few questions. (Brahma samaj is an organization which accepts Absolute Truth is Brahman. But for them Brahman is formless and nameless). The person told Srila Prabhupada, “Swamiji, why you’re not accepting/worshipping brahman in your society? You're worshiping Sita Rama and Radha Krishna. But our Brahma samaj is the correct path since we accept and worship Brahman." To him Prabhupada replied, "See, our Krishna consciousness society is the true Brahma samaj. Because Brahman means the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the greatest and who is full of all opulences . And Lord Krishna is that Supreme Brahman (param brahma). So we are accepting, worshiping and preaching about Krishna who is param brahma. So you should join our society if you really want to worship Brahman". The above statements of Srila Prabhupada are really profound and it is the essence of teachings of all acharyas who expounded the Absolute Truth. Let us meditate on the meaning of word Brahman/Parabrahman and how it denotes the Supreme Lord, in detail in the following offerings. Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Narahari Krishna das Chennai. The Supreme Absolute Truth - Part 2 Date: 2017-10-15 Author: Narahari Krishna das Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Gurudeva. This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "The Supreme Absolute Truth". In previous offering we were meditating on some of the meanings of the word "Brahman". Now we will continue to meditate on the meaning of Brahman / Parabrahman. The word 'Brahman' comes from the root 'brhad' which means infinitely great. The Vishnu purana gives the meaning of the word 'Brahman' as (Vishnu Purana - 1.12.57) bṛhattvād bṛṁhaṇatvāc ca tad brahma paramaṁ viduḥ- "The Absolute truth is called paramam brahma because it is infinitely greatest and most exalted (brhattvaad) and it can make others great and exalted (brmhanattvad)." Lord Caitanya confirmed this definition in the conversations with scholars in Varanasi, Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 7.138 as follows. bṛhad-vastu ‘brahma’ kahi — ‘śrī-bhagavān’ ṣaḍ-vidhaiśvarya-pūrṇa, para-tattva-dhāma Brahman, who is greater than the greatest, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is full in six opulences, and therefore He is the reservoir of ultimate truth and absolute knowledge. In the purport to the Caitanya caritamrita Adi lila 7.140, Srila Prabhupada explains the ultimate meaning of Brahman/Parabrahman as, "Brahman means the greatest, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is greater than the greatest, just as the sun globe is greater than the sunshine, which is all-pervading in the universe. Although the sunshine that spreads all over the universes appears very great to the less knowledgeable, greater than the sunshine is the sun itself, and greater than the sun is the sun-god. Similarly, impersonal Brahman is not the greatest, although it appears to be so...In the Vedic literature, whenever the words "Brahman" or "Parabrahman" are used, they are to be understood to refer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. This is their real meaning. Since the entire Vedic literature deals with the subject of Brahman, Krishna is therefore the ultimate goal of Vedic understanding." The sruti mantras (Atharva Siras Upanishad) also states that Absolue Truth is called Param brahma because it is Infinitely great (brhad) and exalted. Atharva Siras Upanishad atha kasmād ucyate paraṃ brahma yasmāt param aparaṃ parāyaṇaṃ ca bṛhad bṛhatyā bṛṃhayati tasmād ucyate paraṃ brahma Why the Absolute Truth is called param brahma? Because He is the infinitely great(brhad) in terms of time, space and qualities having no equal or superior and He is the supreme shelter. He is most exalted and has the nature to exalt everything coming in touch with Him, He is called param brahma. There is a nice story in Mahabharata Shanti parva, which confirms that the Supreme Lord Hari is infinitely great in respect of his nature. Once Narada Muni wanted to understand the Absolute Truth and hence controlled his breath and senses and meditated in the Himalayas for 100 celestial years. At that time he heard a celestial voice, "O great sage, I can give you the knowledge of the Absolute you are looking for." Then Narada Muni asked, "I cannot see your form and your voice is resounding. Please tell me who are you and what is the nature of your form?" The voice replied, "I'm unlimited and the greatest (ananto 'ham brhattarah). I do not have material eyes, ears, tongue and touch. So you cannot understand me by senses. The only way you can understand me is the way by which you understand yourself i.e. transcendental knowledge, since both of us have the same nature." Saying this the voice stopped. Narada muni was astonished and worried at the same time, "How I will understand the person who spoke to me? But He gave one clue that He is unlimited and greatest. So I should find out who is infinite and unlimitedly greatest." Narada muni said to himself, "The earth I see is vast and great and all creatures are born and destroyed here. Let me ask if she is greatest and unlimited." Then he prayed to the controlling deity of earth and said, "You are wonderful, fortunate and beautiful and hence you are the greatest I believe. Please tell me about your nature." She smiled and replied, "I am neither the greatest nor unlimited. I am born from the smell (gandha) which is my subtle form. Please ask the deity of smell if he is the greatest." Krishna willing let us join Narada Muni in his search of the greatest in the next offering. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudeva, Narahari Krishna das Chennai. The Supreme Absolute Truth - Part 3 Date: 2017-10-16 Author: Narahari Krishna das Hare Krishna prabhujis and matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva. This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "The Supreme Absolute Truth". In previous offering we were meditating on 1) The meaning of the words "Brahman" and "Parabrahman". 2) Narada's search for the Absolute Truth. Now we shall see further. When Mother earth informed Narada Muni that she is neither greatest nor unlimited and that she comes from the subtle form gandha (smell), he then prayed to the deity in charge of smell and asked, "I think you’re wonderful, unlimited and greatest. I want to understand your nature." The deity replied "I'm not the greatest. Water which is my cause is greater than me." Then Narada Muni approached ocean which is great body of water and asked the same question.