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..