The Brahmajyoti Is Not Separate From God
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the infinite spiritual effulgence illuminating the creation is not a formless void or independent energy, but is eternally connected to the transcendental body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Inseparable Nature of the Lord and His Effulgence
The Lord's spiritual effulgence is an inseparable extension of His divine form. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the brahmajyoti is not separate from the Lord, as the glowing sun ray is not independent of the sun disc; therefore one who desires to merge into the supreme impersonal brahmajyoti must also worship the Lord by bhakti-yoga. The original primeval cause is vigraha, the personal, and the impersonal spiritual effulgence, brahmajyoti, is also an effect of the Supreme Brahman, Lord Kṛṣṇa. In the final analysis, the Supreme Absolute Truth is a Person, and simultaneously He is the all-pervading Supersoul within the hearts of all living entities and within the core of all atoms, and He is the brahmajyoti or the effulgence of spiritual light as well. Thus, simply by seeing the form of the Lord as He presents Himself by His own internal potency as Kṛṣṇa or Rāma or Kapila, one can directly see the brahmajyoti, because the brahmajyoti is no more than the effulgence of His bodily luster.
- The brahmajyoti is not separate from the Lord, as the glowing sun ray is not independent of the sun disc. Therefore one who desires to merge into the supreme impersonal brahmajyoti must also worship the Lord by bhakti-yoga.
- In the final analysis, the Supreme Absolute Truth is a Person, and simultaneously He is the all-pervading Supersoul within the hearts of all living entities and within the core of all atoms, and He is the brahmajyoti or the effulgence of spiritual light as well.
- The original primeval cause is vigraha, the personal, and the impersonal spiritual effulgence, brahmajyoti, is also an effect of the Supreme Brahman (brahmano hi pratisthaham (BG 14.27)), Lord Krsna.
- Simply by seeing the form of the Lord as He presents Himself by His own internal potency as Krsna or Rama or Kapila, one can directly see the brahmajyoti, because the brahmajyoti is no more than the effulgence of His bodily luster.
The All-Pervading Omnipresence
Because the Lord is absolute, His bodily rays are completely immune to material contamination. On the assertion of the Vedic aphorism sarvam khalv idaṁ brahma, we can understand that the Lord, by the omnipresent rays of His effulgence, called brahmajyoti, is all-pervading inside or outside of everything. The Lord, by the omnipresent rays of His effulgence, called brahma-jyotir, is all-pervading inside or outside of everything, like the omnipresent material sky, and thus He is also omniscient. Furthermore, the rays of the transcendental body of the Lord, the unlimited brahmajyoti, are undeterred by the influence of material energy. Just as the sun is ever increasingly unaffected by a spot of cloud, so also the unlimited Lord is unaffected by the spot of material energy manifested at times in the unlimited span of the Lord's rays of brahmajyoti.
- On the assertion of the Vedic aphorism sarvam khalv idam brahma, we can understand that the Lord, by the omnipresent rays of His effulgence, called brahmajyoti, is all-pervading inside or outside of everything.
- The Lord, by the omnipresent rays of His effulgence, called brahma-jyotir, is all-pervading inside or outside of everything, like the omnipresent material sky, and thus He is also omniscient.
- The rays of the transcendental body of the Lord, the unlimited brahmajyoti, are undeterred by the influence of material energy.
- As the sun is ever increasingly unaffected by a spot of cloud, so also the unlimited Lord is unaffected by the spot of material energy manifested at times in the unlimited span of the Lord's rays of brahmajyoti.
Partial Realization vs. Complete Realization
Realizing the all-pervading light is a significant milestone, but not the final step. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that although the impersonal effulgence, the brahma-jyotir, is the first realization, one must enter into it, as mentioned in the Īśopaniṣad, to find the Supreme Person, and then one's knowledge is perfect. By realizing the impersonal brahmajyoti, one experiences the auspicious aspect of the Supreme, and by realizing the Paramātmā, or all-pervading feature of the Supreme, one experiences an even more auspicious enlightenment. Therefore, the impersonalist, who gives more importance to the transcendental rays of the Lord as brahma-jyotir and who concludes that the Absolute Truth is ultimately impersonal and only manifests a form at a time of necessity, is less intelligent than the personalist. Ultimately, those who are not purely sanctified may be attracted by different features of the Lord, like the impersonal brahmajyoti and localized Paramātmā, but a pure devotee directly takes to the service of the Supreme Lord.
- Although the impersonal effulgence, the brahma-jyotir, is the first realization, one must enter into it, as mentioned in the Isopanisad, to find the Supreme Person, and then one's knowledge is perfect.
- By realizing the impersonal brahmajyoti, one experiences the auspicious aspect of the Supreme, and by realizing the Paramatma, or all-pervading feature of the Supreme, one experiences an even more auspicious enlightenment.
- The impersonalist, who gives more importance to the transcendental rays of the Lord as brahma-jyotir and who concludes that the Absolute Truth is ultimately impersonal and only manifests a form at a time of necessity, is less intelligent than the personalist.
- Those who are not purely sanctified may be attracted by different features of the Lord, like the impersonal brahmajyoti and localized Paramatma, but a pure devotee directly takes to the service of the Supreme Lord.
The Destination of the Impersonalists and Enemies
The Supreme Lord mercifully grants liberation even to those lacking pure devotion. The demons and impersonalists are awarded the facility of merging in the brahmajyoti effulgence of the Lord, whereas the devotees are admitted into the spiritual planets. Since the Lord is very kind to everyone, the impersonalists, who accept bhakti as the means of merging in the existence of the Lord in His impersonal brahma-jyotir, are also awarded their desired destination. Even adversaries receive this result; the Vedas said, "My dear Lord, yogīs meditate upon Your localized features, and thus they achieve the spiritual perfection of being merged in the impersonal brahma-jyoti. Persons who treat You as an enemy achieve the same perfection without meditating." Yet, this salvation is static, for the worship of the pure devotee never stops, whereas the worship of the impersonalist stops after his attainment of salvation, when he merges in the impersonal form of the Lord known as the brahmajyoti.
- The demons and impersonalists are awarded the facility of merging in the brahmajyoti effulgence of the Lord, whereas the devotees are admitted into the spiritual planets.
- Since the Lord is very kind to everyone, the impersonalists, who accept bhakti as the means of merging in the existence of the Lord in His impersonal brahma-jyotir, are also awarded their desired destination.
- The Vedas said, "My dear Lord, yogis meditate upon Your localized features, and thus they achieve the spiritual perfection of being merged in the impersonal brahma-jyoti. Persons who treat You as an enemy achieve the same perfection without meditating."
- The worship of the pure devotee never stops, whereas the worship of the impersonalist stops after his attainment of salvation, when he merges in the impersonal form of the Lord known as the brahmajyoti.
Beyond the Impersonal Effulgence
To achieve the highest perfection, one must surrender to the Supreme Person. One cannot be sure of entrance into the spiritual realm—in either the impersonal brahmajyoti effulgence of the Lord or the Vaikuṇṭha planets within that Brahman effulgence—unless he is surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. Without surrender, the facilities of devotional service are denied the impersonalists because they are attached to the brahmajyoti feature of the Lord, and as suggested in the previous mantras, they cannot penetrate the brahma-jyoti because they do not believe in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, a pure devotee begs for divine mercy; in this prayer, therefore, Śrī Īśopaniṣad petitions the Lord to remove the effulgent rays of the brahmajyoti so that the pure devotee can see His all-blissful transcendental form. Ultimately, after surpassing the impersonal brahmajyoti and seeing the personal aspect of the Lord and His most auspicious eternal form, the devotee realizes the Absolute Truth in full.
- One cannot be sure of entrance into the spiritual realm - in either the impersonal brahmajyoti effulgence of the Lord or the Vaikuntha planets within that Brahman effulgence - unless he is surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.
- The facilities of devotional service are denied the impersonalists because they are attached to the brahmajyoti feature of the Lord. As suggested in the previous mantras, they cannot penetrate the brahma-jyoti because they do not believe in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- In this prayer, therefore, Sri Isopanisad petitions the Lord to remove the effulgent rays of the brahmajyoti so that the pure devotee can see His all-blissful transcendental form.
- After surpassing the impersonal brahmajyoti and seeing the personal aspect of the Lord and His most auspicious eternal form, the devotee realizes the Absolute Truth in full.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s profound teachings dismantle the misconception that God is ultimately a formless light. The brahmajyoti is not a separate, independent energy; it is the breathtaking bodily luster of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa. While the all-pervading nature of this light demonstrates the Lord's omnipresence, meditating on it or merging into it offers only a partial, static realization of the Absolute Truth. Impersonalists and enemies of the Lord may reach this glowing destination, but they are denied the dynamic, eternal bliss of devotional service. Therefore, pure devotees do not desire to become one with the light. By surrendering to the Supreme Lord and continuously engaging in bhakti-yoga, they easily penetrate the dazzling brahmajyoti and attain the ultimate perfection: eternal life in the spiritual sky, rendering loving service to the Supreme Person.
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 God and His Brahmajyoti. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.