Animate - The Source of Life and Cosmic Manifestation
Modern science often struggles to pinpoint the exact origin of life, attempting to trace consciousness back to a random combination of chemicals. However, the Vedic literature provides a much clearer, more logical explanation. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that matter is inherently dead and inanimate. Life and animation never arise from matter; rather, matter is animated by the presence of the superior spiritual energy. Understanding the source of this animation is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe.
The Spark of Consciousness
A machine cannot run without an operator, and a body cannot move without a soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the physical body—composed of earth, water, fire, air, and ether—is completely inanimate. It is only the presence of the eternal spirit soul that provides the consciousness necessary to animate the senses, allowing the eyes to see and the mouth to speak.
- The soul is different from the body, and as long as the soul is there, the body is animate. But there is no possibility of making the body animate in the absence of the soul.
- As soon as consciousness is removed from the body, the mouth will not speak, the eye will not see, nor the ears hear. A child can understand that. It is a fact that consciousness is absolutely necessary for the animation of the body.
- The living entity lives close to matter, but this does not mean that he merges or mixes with it (asango hy ayam purusah), although material scientists mistakenly see the organic and inorganic, or animate and inanimate, to be mixed.
- Now we come to the point that the things which are seen by a little use of intelligence cannot be animate unless we accept someone as the user of or director of the intelligence.
Animating the Cosmic Manifestation
The principle of animation operates on a universal scale just as it does within the individual body. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the entire cosmic manifestation was initially dark and inactive. It was only when the Supreme Personality of Godhead, expanding as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, entered into the universes that the material nature became animated and the cycle of creation began.
- Thus all the universes remained thousands of eons within the water (the Causal Ocean), and the Lord of living beings, entering in each of them, caused them to be fully animated.
- The Lord as Garbhodakasayi Visnu or Hiranyagarbha Supersoul enters into each and every universe and causes it to be animated by begetting the living entities within the womb of the material nature, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita.
- When the animation takes place, the living entities revive their own natural activities under the spell of time and energy, and thus the varieties of living beings are manifested. The Lord is ultimately the cause of all animation in the material world.
- The supreme living being has created this material world of animation; it is not that He was created by this material world. When everything is silent, the Supreme Being stays awake as a witness.
The Supreme Proprietor
Because the Supreme Lord is the creator and the animating force behind the entire universe, He is naturally its supreme proprietor. Quoting the Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that everything—whether animate or inanimate—belongs to Kṛṣṇa. Human beings must recognize this divine ownership and utilize the world's resources cooperatively, rather than fighting over illusory property rights.
- Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord - Isopanisad, Mantra 1.
- Sri Isopanisad states that "everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord (isavasyam idam sarvam)." The truth of this statement is factual, but under illusion we are thinking that we are the proprietors.
- Within this universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Supersoul feature is present everywhere, wherever there are animate or inanimate beings. Therefore, one should accept only that which is allotted to him; one should not desire to infringe upon the property of others.
- Demigods are undoubtedly controlling all matter, animate and inanimate, within the universe, but above them the supreme controller is the Personality of Godhead.
The Fully Animate Spiritual World
While the material world is a mixture of conscious souls and dead matter, the spiritual world is entirely different. Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully describes the realm of Vaikuṇṭha and Vṛndāvana, where the concept of inanimate objects does not exist. In Kṛṣṇa's abode, the trees, the flowers, and the very dust on the ground are fully animate, completely conscious, and bursting with ecstatic love for the Lord.
- Spiritual variegatedness means that everything is animate. There is nothing inanimate. Even the trees, the ground, the plants, the flowers, the birds and the beasts are all on the level of Krsna consciousness.
- When the Lord entered the forest of Vrndavana, all the inhabitants of the forest, both animate and inanimate, were eager to receive Him. He saw that the flowers of the forest, all fully blossoming, were weeping in ecstasy, honey flowing down their petals.
- Such descriptions of Krsna’s transcendental pastimes and activities were remembered by the gopis during His absence from Vrndavana. They give us some idea of how attractive Krsna is, not only to human beings but to all animate and inanimate objects.
- The Earth personified continued, "Everything animate and inanimate in this phenomenal world - rests upon You (Krsna). Since everything is produced of You, nothing can be separate from You".
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda brings our perspective to the highest level of realization. By understanding that we are the conscious spiritual force animating this temporary body, we naturally turn our attention to the Supreme Soul, the animator of the entire cosmos. By linking our consciousness with Kṛṣṇa through devotional service, we prepare ourselves to return to the spiritual sky, where life is eternal, fully animate, and perfectly blissful.
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 Animate. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.