Awakening Devotional Service by Comprehending the Real Tattva
Human life is meant for an inquiry higher than just biological survival, specifically aiming to understand the ultimate spiritual reality. As explained by Śrīla Prabhupāda, this profound inquiry is known as tattva-jijñāsā, the search for the Absolute Truth. Through this genuine and scientific search, a sincere student surpasses mere academic knowledge and awakens pure devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Essential Inquiry of Human Life
The primary distinction between animal life and human life lies in the ability to ask profound questions about our existence and the nature of reality. It is repeatedly stressed by Śrīla Prabhupāda that the entirety of our human energy should be directed toward tattva-jijñāsā, or the deep inquiry into the Absolute Truth. Rather than wasting precious time on temporary bodily maintenance, a serious seeker must dedicate their life to discovering their actual identity, the nature of God, and the purpose of the material universe.
- Everyone should be interested to inquire, athato brahma jijnasa, or tattva-jijnasa: What is the aim of life? What is the Absolute Truth? So children should be educated also from the very beginning.
- Nobody is inquiring, neither there is any institution throughout the whole world where there is tattva-jijnasa, what is the Absolute Truth. Simply technical knowledge - how to become this, how to become that, to fill up this belly.
- The human life is only meant for tattva-jijnasa, to understand the Absolute Truth. That requires brahminical culture, not the dull brain of sudras and candalas. They cannot understand.
- You work hard, keep yourself fit, but live for tattva-jijnasa. That is life, tattva-jijnasa: What I am? What is God? What is this material world? Why I have come here? Why I am put into so much trouble? These are the inquiries.
The Three Features of the Absolute Truth
The Absolute Truth is one nondual substance, but it is realized in three distinct phases according to the capacity of the spiritual practitioner. This progressive realization, as mapped out by Śrīla Prabhupāda, begins with the impersonal Brahman and the localized Paramātmā, culminating in the Supreme Person, Bhagavān. Only when one comprehends the Lord in His original personal form is the ultimate understanding of tattva considered complete.
- The real tattva, or truth, consists of Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.11): "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan."
- It is said in the Srimad Bhagavatam, that substance called truth, tattva, those who are jnanis they think it is formless, and the yogis understand it as Paramatma, and the devotees understand the truth to be Bhagavan.
- The real tattva, Absolute Truth, is Bhagavan, but due to incomplete realization of the Absolute Truth, people sometimes describe the same Visnu as impersonal Brahman or localized Paramatma.
- That Absolute Truth, tattva-vastu, those who are in the knowledge of tattva-vastu, they say the Absolute Truth is one, advaya-jnana. There is no duality. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam advayam. Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.
Approaching the Authorized Preceptor
To accurately comprehend the science of God, one cannot rely on independent speculation or mundane academic achievements. Instead, Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly advises that a sincere student must approach a tattva-darśī, a self-realized spiritual master who has actually seen the truth. By receiving instructions through this authorized disciplic succession, the conditioned soul is saved from illusion and false methodologies.
- One should first want to inquire about Brahman and then search out a master who has perfect vision of the Absolute Truth (jnaninas tattva-darsinah (Bhagavad-gita 4.34)). Krsna is the supreme tattva, Absolute Truth.
- Tattvam, the truth, so one must have seen the truth, realized the truth. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet (Mundaka Upanisad 1.2.12). That is guru, means one who has seen the truth. How he has seen the truth? Through the parampara system.
- From whom you'll have to inquire? From a person who has actually seen what is tattva, what is truth. From him.
- We should not take lessons of God from these rascals. We should take lessons of God from sastra, from guru and from sadhu—one who has seen God, tattva-darsina.
The Scientific Reality of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
The profound science of tattva is not based on whimsical sentiments, blind faith, or dry philosophy. It is thoroughly presented by Śrīla Prabhupāda as a solid, scientific reality that frees the individual from superficial bodily entanglement. Only by knowing Kṛṣṇa exactly as He is can a person truly transcend material existence and step onto the eternal spiritual platform.
- Tattvatah means reality, scientifically. Not by whims or sentiments or fanaticism. No. Everything. Krsna consciousness is everything scientific, solid scientific. It is not bogus.
- Simply by knowing by historical fact that Krsna is born in such-and-such date, in such-and-such place, in such-and-such family, activity... but no. One has to learn that in tattvatah, in truth. Then he becomes free from this bodily entanglement.
- Not to understand superficially but to understand tattvatah. Then you are liberated immediately. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti.
- We must understand the Supreme Person, tattvatah, in truth. Generally people are not interested in knowing about God or their relationship with Him. However, the entire Vedic instruction is for this purpose.
Devotional Service as the Ultimate Realization
While various paths such as empiric philosophy and mystic meditation exist, they fall short of fully comprehending the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To understand the Absolute Truth in full, it is firmly concluded by Śrīla Prabhupāda that one must adopt the path of unalloyed devotional service. By becoming a pure devotee, the seeker accesses the highest perfection of tattva-jñāna and knows Kṛṣṇa perfectly.
- Tattvatah, Krsna as He is, cannot be understood by the other methods, namely by mental speculation or mystic yogic exercises. Krsna cannot be understood in that way. If we want to understand Krsna, then we have to accept the Krsna method, bhakti method.
- Simply to understand Krsna is liberation. And that is also explained. What is that tattva? How one can understand tattvatah, that is explained by Krsna. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. That tattva is bhakti, not karma, jnana, yoga.
- Unless one practices devotional service to the Lord, one cannot know Krsna as He is (tattvatah), even though one is a great scholar or philosopher.
- Here again the word tattvatah, "in truth," is used. One can understand the science of Krsna in truth by becoming a devotee. He who is not a devotee, who does not strive for Krsna consciousness, cannot understand.
Conclusion
The culmination of the Vedic path is to awaken from the illusion of bodily identification by grasping the true nature of existence. By deeply investigating the science of reality, one comes to realize the personal feature of God through the grace of a qualified spiritual teacher. As vividly taught by Śrīla Prabhupāda, comprehending this supreme tattva via unalloyed devotion permanently liberates the soul and grants eternal association with Kṛṣṇa.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Tattva. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.