Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 25

Sutra 30
The senses and mind, what they perceive, and the results produced by their acts of perception, are all material, for these are all created within the material world and they are all the result of the soul's misidentifying itself as a material body.

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Rajneesh, infamous for his advocation of “free sex” among his thousands of Western disciples, writes:
The word “brahmacharya” means that you have come to attain, you have come to know that you are the Brahman, the ultimate, the divine, that you are God Himself.1
Satya Sai Baba, India's most famous contemporary mystic and “holy” man, says:
You have not heard Me fully; I say I am God; I say also that you are God. The difference is that I know it and you do not know it.²
The idea of the “I am God”ists is that each of us is actually the Supreme Spirit, but that somehow we forgot our true identity as God and came under the spell of ignorance. So you are supposedly God, the Supreme Being, but you are now caught under the laws of material nature. You are supposedly the Supreme Lord,


Siddhaswarupananda - Jagad Guru Speaks
1Rajneesh, Yoga: The Alpha and the Omega, vol. 3, p. 36.
2Andrew Shaw, Words of Truth: A Second Compilation of Sayings by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Private Ltd., 1998), p. 7.


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Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
The word 'indriyani' here refers to both the knowledge-acquiring senses and the working senses. What the knowledge acquiring senses perceive is form, taste, smell, sound and touch. What the working senses do is the five actions, which begin with walking. The results produced by their acts of perception are the mind's activity of accepting some things and rejecting others. All these are material, for they are all created within the material world and they are all the result of the soul's misidentifying itself as a material body. In the Upanisads it is said:
"From the Supreme all the life-airs and all the senses were created. Then He created the mind."

In the Katha Upanisad (2.3.7-8) it is said:
"Higher than the senses are the sense-objects. Higher then the sense-objects is the mind. Higher than the mind is the intelligence. Higher than the intelligence is the soul. Higher than the soul is the mahat-tattva.
"Higher than the mahat-tattva is the unmanifested. Higher than the unmanifested is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nothing is higher than the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the highest. He is the supreme destination."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 24

"In that personal abode of the Lord, the material modes of ignorance and passion do not prevail, nor is there any of their influence in goodness. There is no predominance of the influence of time, so what to speak of the illusory, external energy. It cannot enter that region. Without discrimination, both the demigods and demons worship the Lord as devotees.
"The inhabitants of the Vaikuntha planets are described as having a glowing sky-bluish complexion. Their eyes resemble lotus flowers, their dress is of yellowish colour, and their bodily features are very attractive. They are just the age of growing youths, they all have four hands, they are all nicely decorated with pearl necklaces with ornamental medallions, and they all appear to be effulgent."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (10.14.2) the demigod Brahma, now freed from illusion, speaks the following prayer:
"My dear Lord, neither I nor anyone else can estimate the potency of this transcendental body of Yours, which has shown such mercy to me and which appears just to fulfil the desires of Your pure devotees. Although my mind is completely withdrawn from material affairs, I cannot understand Your personal form. How, then, could I understand the happiness You experience within Yourself."

In the Mundaka Upanisad (2.2.9) it is said:
"The self-realised souls know that the spiritual world is effulgent, pure, glorious, and never touched by matter."

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The chief historical proponent of such “I am God”ism philosophy was Sripad Shankaracharya. Shankaracharya lived and preached throughout India in the eighth century. The preaching of Shankaracharya and his followers was so strong that, practically speaking, it drove Buddhism out of India. Today, throughout India and the world, Shankaracharya's teachings (or slight variations of them) are still having a tremendous influence on people.
In Calcutta, India, for example, we can see the ridiculous sight of a starving, sore-infested man meditating on the side of the road: “I am God. I am God.” In America and Europe, you'll find many so-called yogis and gurus who are directly or indirectly in Shankaracharya's line of “I am God” ism teachers.



Science of Identity Foundation - Siddhaswarupananda


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Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu quoted these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.11):
"Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call the non dual substance Brahman, Paramatma, or Bhagavan."

In the Narada-pancaratra it is said:
"In the midst of the spiritual world's splendour resides the Supreme Personality of Godhead, His peerless form dark and handsome."

In the Brahma-samhita (5.1) it is said:
"Krsna who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all, for He is the prime cause of all causes."

In the Isa Upanisad (mantra 8) it is said:
"Such a person must factually know the greatest of all, who is unembodied, omniscient, beyond reproach, without veins, pure, and uncontaminated, the self-sufficient philosopher, who has been fulfilling everyone's desires since time immemorial."

In the Brahmanda Purana, the demigods offer these prayers glorifying Lord Krsna, who stays in Sri Radha's heart:
"You are the Supreme Brahman, whom the Madhyandina recension of the Vedas glorifies with the words 'sad eva saumyedam agra asit'. We offer our obeisances to You again and again.
"The Vedas glorify You with the words, 'dve vidye veditavye'. You are the Supreme Brahman described in the Vedas. We offer our obeisances to You again and again.
"The Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad describes You with the words, 'ekam evadvitiyam'. You are the Supreme Brahman described in the Vedas. We offer our obeisances to You again and again.
"The Vedas glorify You with the words, 'eko vai purusah'. You are the imperishable Supreme Person described in the Vedas. We offer our obeisances to You again and again."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 23

Sutra 29
The material senses can perceive the material world, but they cannot perceive the spiritual world in the same way, for that world is beyond their ability to know.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Here someone may protest: Do not the scriptures say, 'vaikuntham tad-adhisthanam drastum te munayo gatah' (Many sages have gone to see the spiritual world)? Many devarsis, brahmarsis and other great souls have gone to the spiritual world, seen the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and returned to this world to describe what they have seen. Why have you spoken these mistaken words that will bewilder all who hear them?

To refute this protest the author of the sutras begins this passage beginning with sutra 29.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead and His spiritual world cannot be perceived by the material senses in the same way the material world is perceived by them. This is so because the spiritual world is beyond the knowledge of the material senses (adhoksaja). That is the meaning. The idea that the spiritual world can be seen by material senses is an idea created by the illusory energy of the Lord. In truth the spiritual world is beyond the perception of the material senses. In the scriptures it is said:
"The spiritual world of Vaikuntha is worshipped by all the worlds."
No one returns from the spiritual world. This is described in Bhagavad-gita (15.6) where the Supreme Personality of Godhead says:
"One who reaches My abode never returns to this material world."

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AM I GOD?
The impersonalist “I am God”ist Swami Muktananda advised his students:
Meditate on your Self. Honor and worship your own Self. Kneel to your Self, because the supreme reality, the highest truth lives within you as you.*
Obviously, such an “I am God”ist or impersonalist can be very dangerous to others and society. Many of these “I am God”ists end up as the most extreme of all hedonists—having illicit sex with their disciples, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, smoking, eating meat, and engaging in all kinds of debauchery. They declare that they can do so without being contaminated karmically because they are so “spiritually advanced.” At the moment, the Western world (as well as India) is crawling with such charlatans.


Siddhaswarupananda - Chris Butler Speaks
*Swami Muktananda, Getting Rid of What You Haven’t Got (Oakland: S.Y.D.A. Foundation, 1978), p. 43.

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In Bhagavad-gita (8.16) the Supreme Personality of Godhead again says:
"One who attains My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again."

In the Taittiriya Upanisad (2.4.1) it is said:
"The descriptive power of speech fails in the realm of the Absolute Truth."

It is also said:
"The spiritual world is made of pure goodness. There every desire is at once fulfilled."

It is also said:
"The Spiritual world of Vaikuntha is worshipped by all the worlds."

In the Narada-pancaratra, Lord Sadasiva explains:
"The eternal spiritual world of Goloka is situated in the spiritual sky."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (2.9.9-11) the following description of Brahma's vision of Vaikuntha is given:
"The Personality of Godhead, being thus very much satisfied with the penance of Lord Brahma, was pleased to manifest His personal abode, Vaikuntha, the supreme planet above all others. This transcendental abode of the Lord is adored by all self-realised persons freed from all kinds of miseries and fear of illusory existence.

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 22

Now the author of the sutras will reveal the way the soul can become free from these illusions. The author says:

Sutra 28
Using the intelligence's power of discrimination, one can become free from these illusions.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Here the word 'tatah' means 'from the two previously described illusions', 'muktih' means 'the individual souls attain freedom', and 'vivekena' means 'by understanding the truth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the individual spirit soul.'
In the Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad (4.4.12) it is said:
"If a person knows the true nature of the soul, and if he thinks, 'I am spirit', then what will he desire in this material world? How will he become attached to his material body?"

In the Mundaka Upanisad (2.2.9) it is said:
"Thus the knot in the heart is pierced and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions is terminated when one sees the self as master."

The wise transcendentalists are described in these words of Bhagavad-gita (4.33 and 39):
"O chastiser of the enemy, the sacrifice of knowledge is greater than the sacrifice of material possessions. O son of Prtha, after all, the sacrifice of work culminates in transcendental knowledge."
"A faithful man who is absorbed in transcendental knowledge, and who subdues his senses, quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace."

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Many people practice tai chi, chi gong, and so on with the aim of keeping their bodies fit for a long time. There is certainly nothing wrong with keeping one’s body fit—indeed, it is one of the aims of yoga—but unfortunately, many such people are trying to run away from the inevitable death of the body. Some mystic yogis strive to keep their bodies alive forever—but that is not possible. Even if one was the greatest yogi and could keep his body alive for thousands of years, that still is not forever.

Siddhaswarupananda - Jagad Guru Speaks

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In the Bhagavad-gita (16.16 and 16.21) the Lord also declares:
"Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, one becomes too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and falls down into hell."
"There are three gates leading to this hell: lust, anger, and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul."*

In the Bhagavad-gita (7.16) the Lord also declares:
"O best among the Bharatas (Arjuna), four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me: the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (1.8.25), Queen Kunti tells Lord Krsna:
"I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths."

In the Narada-pancaratra, Second Night, Second Chapter, it is said:
"By associating with the devotees of Sri Krsna, one attains unwavering, unmotivated, blissful devotional service, service that eventually allows one to serve Lord Krsna directly.
"As a tender new sprout on vines or trees grows with the rains and withers with the scorching sunshine, so a new sprout on the tree of devotional service grows by conversing with devotees and withers by conversing with non devotees."

In Bhagavad-gita (4.34) the Supreme Personality of Godhead says:
"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self realised soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth."

In Bhagavad-gita (7.3), the Supreme Personality of Godhead again says:
"Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavour for perfection, and out of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth."

In Bhagavad-gita (7.19) the Supreme Personality of Godhead again says:
"After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 21

In the next sutra the author reveals the many delusions that bewilder the conditioned souls.

Sutra 27
Because of attachment to inert matter, the conditioned soul is bewildered about happiness and about the spiritual world.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
The conditioned soul is bewildered about happiness. Because he is attached to the material world, he thinks he will find happiness in the material world: in Svargaloka, in an excellent material body, or in some other way. Because he is attached to the objects in this material world he is also bewildered about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and about the transcendental abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Srimad Bhagavatam (3.10.26) the Supreme Personality of Godhead declares:
"In the human race the mode of passion is very prominent. Humans are always busy in the midst of miserable life, but they think themselves happy in all respects."

In the Katha Upanisad (1.1.12) Naciketa tells Yamaraja, the lord of death:
"In the spiritual world there is not fear of old age, or of you, O death. There one crosses beyond both of them. In the spiritual world there is no anxiety to attain food and drink. The residents of the spiritual world enjoy transcendental bliss."

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Sometimes a person is still addicted to cigarette smoking or meat-eating. If he follows the process of bhakti yoga, then gradually he will be able to give up such habits. It is a question of tasting a higher taste. If a person engages in the process of bhakti yoga, he will gradually begin to taste the higher spiritual happiness, and he will be able to give up all vices naturally. After he gives up such bad habits, then his progress will be very rapid.

Science of Identity Foundation - Siddhaswarupananda

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In the Katha Upanisad (1.1.26) Naciketa says:
"Every human being soon meets his death. Quickly his senses become old and weak. Everyone's life is brief. Your chariots, singing and dancing will last for only a moment."

In the Mundaka Upanisad (1.2.12) it is said:
"Seeing the true nature of the heavenly planets attained by pious deeds, a brahmana no longer desires to go there. He becomes renounced and desires to learn the science of transcending the material world.
"To learn the transcendental subject matter, one must approach a spiritual master. In doing so he should carry fuel to burn in sacrifice. The symptom of such a spiritual master is that he is expert in understanding the Vedic conclusion and therefore he constantly engages in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

In the Mundaka Upanisad (1.2.10) it is said:
"Thinking material pious deeds the best of all actions, and affirming that no other action is better than them, fools go to Svargaloka, enjoy, and then again return to this world or the worlds beneath it."

In Bhagavad-gita (2.62-63) the Supreme Personality of Godhead declares:
"While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.
"From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material pool."

In his commentary on these words Sri Sankaracarya explains:
"Here it is said that contemplation of sense objects is the root of all that is undesirable."

In Bhagavad-gita (4.9) the Supreme Personality of Godhead also declares:
"One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna."

In Bhagavad-gita (15.3-4) the Supreme Personality of Godhead also declares:
"The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination one must cut down this tree with the weapon of detachment. So doing one must seek that place from which, having once gone, one never returns."

In Bhagavad-gita (15.6) the Supreme Personality of Godhead also declares:
"That abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by electricity. One who reaches it never returns to this material world."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 20

Sutra 26
Matter provides a dwelling place for the conditioned souls. This place is called, "the three dimensions of material space".

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Matter provides a dwelling place for the conditioned souls. This place is called, 'the three dimensions of material space'. An example of material space is given in these words of the Svetasvatara Upanisad (4.6-7):
"Although the two birds are on the same tree, the eating bird is fully engrossed with anxiety and moroseness as the enjoyer of the fruits of the tree."

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If a person engages in the process of bhakti yoga and yet continues to engage in activities that are detrimental to spiritual progress, his spiritual progress will be very slow. This does not mean that a person must be completely free of all bad habits before he can even begin the process of bhakti yoga. For example, in the Philippines, one teacher saved many young people who were addicted to heroin and other drugs by teaching them the process of bhakti yoga. It took some time before they could completely give up all drugs; but eventually they did.

Siddhaswarupananda - Chris Butler Speaks

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The 'tree' here is the material dwelling place (the body) of the conditioned soul.
Many philosophers assert that the element earth is the resting place of the other material elements. This is described in the following words of the Mundaka Upanisad (2.1.3):
"From the Supreme Personality of Godhead are born life, mind, all the senses, ether, air, fire and water. All these rest on the element earth."

In a previous mantra (Mundaka Upanisad 2.1.2) it is said:
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is effulgent and transcendental. He is unborn. He is present everywhere in the material world. He is within and without everything. His form is not material. His life-force is not material. His mind is not material. He is supremely glorious. He is greater than the immortal spirit souls."

In the Markandeya Purana it is said:
"O material potency of the Lord, you are the resting place of the entire universe."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 19

Sutra 24
Because it is the potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the material nature has neither beginning nor end.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Because it is the potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the material nature has neither beginning nor end. In the Smrti-sastra it is said:
"Please know that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His material energy are both beginningless."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (1.1.1) it is said:
"O my Lord, Sri Krsna, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Sri Krsna because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance, and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmaji, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditation upon Him, Lord Sri Krsna, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth."

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A person who tries to be a goswami is careful not to engage in those activities that are harmful to his spiritual development. For example, he refrains from taking intoxicants (including all sorts of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and so on); from having illicit sex; from gambling; and from eating meat, fish, and eggs.

Siddhaswarupananda - Jagad Guru Speaks

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Although it has neither beginning nor end, matter is situated within the confines of time and space. The author describes this in the following two sutras.

Sutra 25
Time is not another major category of existence. It is the intermediary that establishes the relationship between the conditioned souls and the material nature.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Some claim that time is a major category of existence, and they quote the following words of the Markandeya Purana to support their idea:
"In the form of seconds, minutes and other parts of its nature, time changes everything in the material world."
The idea that time is a major category of existence is rejected by this sutra. Time is not a major category. It is merely an intermediary who establishes a relationship.

In Sandilya's Bhakti-sutra it is said:
"The major categories are: 1. spirit, and 2. matter. There is no third."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (3.26.16) Lord Kapila explains:
"The influence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is felt in the time factor, which causes fear of death due to the false ego of the deluded soul who has contacted material nature."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 18

In the next sutra the author shows that the illusory potency maya, is a prison for the conditioned souls.

Sutra 23
The material world is like a prison where souls who hate the Supreme Personality of Godhead are confined. There the souls are bound with many shackles, such as the material bodies in which they dwell.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Here the word 'sa' means 'the material nature', 'para' means 'the Supreme Personality of Godhead', and 'ananuraktanam' means 'of they who, exercising their independence, have no love for the Lord and are fond of disobeying His orders'. For such persons the material nature provides a series of shackles, which begin with the material bodies in which the conditioned souls dwell. This is described in the following words of the Katha Upanisad (2.2.7):
"They who do not love the Supreme Personality of Godhead enter a mother's womb, and again dwell in a material body. Some even become unmoving trees and plants. They attain different stations in life according to their past deeds and according to their thoughts at the moment of death."

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So a person's entire lifestyle can be dovetailed with his deep purpose in life. Such a person is the controller of his body, not a slave of his senses. Most people are servants of their senses and minds—they are godas (go means “senses”; das means “servant”). A bhakti yogi, however, strives to be a goswami (swami means “master,” and so goswami means “master of the senses”). A goswami is not dragged around by his senses, but instead uses his senses for his own desired purposes. Although goswami is also a title, in fact the real meaning of goswami is controller of the senses, whether one is externally with the title goswami, brahmachari, householder, or whatever.

Science of Identity Foundation - Siddhaswarupananda

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In the Katha Upanisad (2.2.1) it is said:
"The unborn Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose heart is supremely pure, also resides in the city of eleven gates that is the material body of the conditioned soul."

In Bhagavad-gita (14.5) the Supreme Personality of Godhead explains:
"Material nature consists of the three modes: goodness, passion and ignorance. When the living entity comes in contact with nature, he becomes conditioned by these modes."

In Bhagavad-gita (5.18) the Supreme Personality of Godhead explains:
"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater (outcaste)."

In the Katha Upanisad (2.2.4) it is said:
"The question is asked: When the embodied soul becomes liberated and leaves his material body behind, who will control him? The answer is: The Supreme still controls him."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (26.1) Lord Kapila says:
"My dear mother, now I shall describe unto you the different categories of the Absolute Truth, knowing which any person can be released from the influence of the modes of material nature."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 17

In the Bhagavad-gita (7.14), the Supreme Personality of Godhead also declares:
"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it."

In the Kanada-sutra, Fourth Adhyaya, Second Ahnika, it is said:
"Reality is eternal. It was not created by anyone."
"The atom is the smallest unit of matter. It can never be divided."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (3.11.1-2), Sri Maitreya declares:
"The material manifestation's ultimate particle, which is indivisible and not formed into a body, is called the atom. It exists always as an invisible identity, even after the dissolution of all forms. The material body is but a combination of such atoms, but it is misunderstood by the common man.
"Atoms are the ultimate state of the manifest universe. When they stay in their own forms without forming different bodies, they are called the unlimited oneness. There are certainly different bodies in physical forms, but the atoms themselves form the complete manifestation."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (11.22.4) The Supreme Personality of Godhead declares:
"All such philosophers spoke under the shelter of My mystic potency, and thus they could say anything without contradicting the truth."

Here someone may protest: This potency creates the material world independently, without the help of anyone else. Why must you postulate the existence of a Supreme god?
To answer this protest, the author of the sutras speaks these words:

Sutra 22
Matter is naturally inert, for it is neither alive nor conscious. When conscious life pushes it into action, matter appears to be alive and conscious.

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Masochism can never lead to spiritual perfection. The body is actually a most precious property of the self; it enables the self to engage in various devotional activities that can bring about a change in consciousness. A person's external activities affect his consciousness, and his consciousness affects his external activities. Knowing this, a bhakti yogi consciously chooses to engage in particular external activities in order to bring about the desired spiritual happiness and wisdom.

Siddhaswarupananda - Jagad Guru Speaks

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Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Matter is naturally inert, for it is neither alive nor conscious. It has no power to perform any action. When conscious life pushes it into action, matter appears to become warm with life. It is under these conditions that matter appears to act, becoming the creator of the universe. That is the meaning. This is described in Bhagavad-gita (9.10), where the Supreme Personality of Godhead declares:
"This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and is producing all moving and unmoving beings."

In the Aitareya Upanisad (1.1.1) it is said:
"With a glance the Supreme Personality of Godhead created the material worlds."

In Bhagavad-gita (15.14), the Supreme Personality of Godhead declares:
"I am the fire of digestion in every living body, and I am the air of life, outgoing and incoming, by which I digest the four kinds of foodstuff."

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Kapila (3.26.19) explains:
"After the Supreme Personality of Godhead impregnates material nature with His internal potency, material nature delivers the sum total of the cosmic intelligence, which is known as Hiranmaya. This takes place in material nature, when she is agitated by the destinations of the conditioned souls."

The sankhya acaryas explain:
"It is the material nature that acts. The Supreme Personality of Godhead remains aloof, like a lotus leaf untouched by water."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (3.26.17) Lord Kapila explains:
"My dear mother, O daughter of Svayambhuva Manu, the time factor, as I have explained, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, from whom the creation begins as a result of the agitation of the neutral, unmanifested nature."

In the Markandeya Purana, Devi-mahatmya, Brahma tells Prakrti.
"You maintain everyone. You create the universe. You protect it. It enters you at the end."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 16

Chapter Three

Acit-padartha-prakarana
Matter

Introduction by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Here someone may ask: In what form or with what potency does the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the modes of nature and whose form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, act to create the material universes?

To answer this question, the author of the sutras begins this chapter, which gives the definition of the word "acit" (matter).

Sutra 21
Matter is the illusory potency, maya, which controls the modes of nature and creates a variety of forms and actions, from the lowest to the highest.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Here the Supreme Lord's potency is named Maya. In the Svetasvatara Upanisad (4.10) it is said:
"Although maya (illusion) is false or temporary, the background of maya is the supreme magician, the Personality of Godhead, who is Mahesvara, the supreme controller."

In the Svetasvatara Upanisad (4.5) it is also said:
"A unborn man enjoys an unborn red, white and black woman who bears many children like herself. Another unborn man first enjoys and then forsakes her."
(Translator's note: The unborn woman is the material nature. The colours, red, white, and black are the modes of passion, goodness and ignorance. The many children are the ingredients of the material universes. The first unborn man is the conditioned soul. The second unborn man is the soul who, after trying to enjoy matter, finally renounces the world and attains liberation).

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Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessing of immortality.
~Sri Ishopanishad, Mantra Eleven
Some neophytes on the spiritual path may fall into the illusion that taking care of the body is somehow evil, or a sign of spiritual backwardness. Not only may they neglect the needs of the body, but they may go out of their way to actually damage the body. Such people actually hate the body. They see it as a source of misery, and thus they take out their anger on it. This is certainly a mistake.

Siddhaswarupananda - Chris Butler Speaks

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In His Govinda-bhasya commentary on Vedanta-sutra, Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana explains:
"At the time of cosmic devastation the three modes of nature become subtle and unmanifested. This is called tamah, the unborn root of matter. At the time of cosmic creation the modes of nature manifest a great variety of names and forms, beginning pradhana and avyakta. In this way forms of red and other colours are manifested.

In the Sruti-sastra it is said, 'mahan avyakte liyate 'viaktam aksare 'ksaram tamasi' (At the time of cosmic devastation the mahat-tattva merges into the avyakta, the avyakta merges into the aksara, and the aksara merges into tamah)."

In the Isa Upanisad (mantra 11) it is said:
"Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality."

In the Sankhya-karika, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is described in these words:
"The root of matter does not change. From that root seven transformations, beginning with mahat-tattva, are manifested. From them sixteen transformations are manifested. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is beyond the root of matter and its various transformations."

The Supreme Personality of Godhead tells the demigod Brahma (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.34):
"O Brahma, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness.”

In Sandilya's Bhakti-sutra (3.1.86) it is said:
"This potency of the Lord is called maya, for it is material by nature."
In the Bhagavad-gita (9.10), the Supreme Personality of Godhead declares:
"This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again."