God Is The Original Source - The Absolute Origin of Everything
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Vedānta-sūtra provides the most perfect and succinct definition of God: He is the original source of everything. By studying this supreme origin, one can systematically understand the nature of the entire cosmos, as well as their own constitutional position as an eternal servant.
The Absolute Definition of God
The inquiry into the nature of the Absolute Truth is the prime duty of human life. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that the very first declarations of the Vedānta-sūtra identify the Absolute Person as the original source from whom all creation emanates and into whom it ultimately enters.
- The Vedanta-sutra confirms this. Janmady asya yatah: the Absolute Truth is the original source of everyone's birth.
- The Vedanta-sutra begins by declaring that the Absolute Person is the original source of all creation.
- What is the nature of the original source from whom everything has come, in whom everything exists, and within whom everything will enter?
- The original source of everything is God. So when we study our self minutely, that "what is our position?" Or by studying ourself we can study the nature of God.
The Source of All Energies
All manifestations in the universe are simply displays of the Lord's multifarious potencies. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the singular original source from which all spiritual and material energies expand.
- The Personality of Godhead, the original source of all energies, is able to convert spirit into matter and matter into spirit. For Him there is no difference between matter and spirit. He is therefore called kaivalya.
- Persons with a poor fund of knowledge are captivated by one part of His energy and therefore fail to penetrate into the original source of the energy.
- Their example is that just as the stomach is the source of energy of all the limbs of the body, God is the original source of all energy manifested in the material and spiritual worlds.
- The explanation of Sankhya philosophy is described in detail in the sense that the virat-purusa, or the universal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the original source of all the various sense organs and their presiding deities.
The Fountainhead of Enlightenment
The Lord is not only the source of the physical universe, but also the fountainhead of all knowledge and intelligence. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Bhagavān enlightens the living entities from within the heart, acting as the original source of all spiritual advancement.
- Because I desire liberation, let me surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who first enlightened Lord Brahma in Vedic knowledge through Brahma's heart. The Lord is the original source of all enlightenment and spiritual advancement.
- Factually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original source of all self-realization. Consequently, the goal of all auspicious activities - karma, jnana, yoga and bhakti - is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- It is the Supersoul that inspires the devotee; therefore He is the original source of the Gayatri mantra, which states, om bhur bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayat.
- Savita is the original source of all intelligence. That Savita is Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Beyond Partial Realizations
To understand the Absolute Truth perfectly, one must trace everything back to its ultimate personal root. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that Bhagavān is the supreme, original source of the impersonal Brahman, the localized Paramātmā, and all the demigods.
- As explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam, brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate. Unless one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original source of both Brahman and Paramatma, one is still in darkness about the Absolute Truth.
- The word deva refers to God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the original source of all the demigods, who are also called devas.
- The original source of Brahma, Visnu and Siva - Garbhodakasayi Visnu - is always apart from these actions and reactions of material nature.
- The word yoga means connecting or linking with that original source. Yoga is the Sanskrit word meaning "connection," and viyoga means disconnection.
Conclusion
Atheistic theories that attempt to establish the origin of the universe from dead matter inevitably fail to account for consciousness, intelligence, and the perfect order of creation. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the complete, absolute, and original source of everything. He is the primeval root of all spiritual planets, material universes, localized Paramātmā manifestations, and the impersonal Brahman effulgence. Furthermore, as the ultimate source of intelligence, He imparts the Vedic wisdom directly into the hearts of sincere souls. When a living entity recognizes that their very existence and enlightenment emanate from this supreme source, they naturally strive to re-establish their broken connection (yoga). By engaging in unalloyed devotional service, the conditioned soul perfectly links with the original source, achieving true liberation and eternal satisfaction.
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