Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 41

Sriman Anandabodhendra Sarasvati comments on this verse:
"Here someone may say, 'Matter and spirit are different. Therefore matter cannot see spirit. Therefore of what use are the scriptures? Fearing that someone would make this claim, the author has spoken this verse, which begins with the word 'drsyam'. Spirit can certainly be seen. But it cannot be seen by material eyes. With spiritual intelligence spirit may be understood. With purified eyes one may see spirit. Liberation from the world, or the direct perception of spirit is described in the scriptures. That is the result of scripture-study."

There it is also said:

"Without proper understanding, one is simply trapped in a cave of scriptures. By scripture-study one must revive His own dormant spiritual knowledge. Then he may attain liberation."

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SEEKING SATISFACTION
If you identify your body as yourself, you will try to satisfy yourself by trying to satisfy your body. You’ll think, “I am the body and I want to be happy, I want to be satisfied.” Thus, you’ll try to satisfy the belly, the tongue, the genitals, the ears, the eyes, the nose, and so on, believing that this will bring you the inner satisfaction and happiness you crave.
But sense gratification does not satisfy. This is further evidence that you are not the body. No matter how much sense pleasure you have, you are still never satisfied within.


Siddhaswarupananda - Chris Butler Speaks



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Sutra 42
For they who are not yet self realised, scripture is very important. For they who are self realised this is not so, for such great souls have already attained the perfect spiritual knowledge that is the root from which the scriptures have grown.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Here someone may protest: In Bhagavad-gita (16.23), the Supreme Personality of Godhead declares: "But he who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whim attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination." After all, the word 'sastra; comes from the word 'sasana' which means 'restriction'. Therefore the individual spirit souls are always obliged to follow the restrictions enunciated in the scriptures. How can any good result come from not following the scriptures' rules?
Fearing that someone would voice this protest, the author has spoken this sutra. Here the word "aksamesu" means "they who are not yet self-realised". Such persons cannot act independently. They are governed by the rules of scripture. However, for self-realised souls, who of their own desire to what is right and proper in spiritual life, this is not so. These great souls are not bound by the rules of scripture because they have already attained the perfect spiritual knowledge that is the root from which the scriptures have grown. This means that the self-realised souls have already attained the perfect spiritual knowledge that is the root from which the scriptures have grown. All the scriptures, as well as the Sariraka and Mimamsa commentaries, are meant for the souls who are not yet self-realised, who still dwell in the world of ignorance. Therefore the words of the Lord in Bhagavad-gita (16.23) mean that for their own good the unenlightened souls, who if given independence would perform forbidden actions, the rules of scriptures are given. The rules of scriptures are thus given to bring under control the uncontrolled, independent conditioned souls. For the liberated souls a different instruction is given. Lord Krsna explains (Bhagavad-gita 2.52):
"When your intelligence has passed out of the dense forest of delusion, you shall become indifferent to all that has been heard and all that is to be heard."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 40

In the Mundaka Upanisad (1.1.4-5) it is said:
"Enlightened souls say there are two kinds of knowledge: 1. transcendental knowledge and 2. material knowledge. The knowledge of the Rg, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva Vedas is material knowledge.
"The study of phonetics, rituals, grammar, etymology, meter, and astrology are all material knowledge. Transcendental knowledge is the knowledge that brings one to the imperishable Supreme Personality of Godhead."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (11.14.3-8) the Supreme Personality of Godhead explains:
"By the influence of time, the transcendental sound of Vedic knowledge was lost at the time of annihilation. Therefore, when the subsequent creation took place, I spoke the Vedic knowledge to Brahma because I Myself am the religious principles enunciated in the Vedas.

"Lord Brahma spoke this Vedic knowledge to his eldest son Manu, and the seven sages headed by Bhrgu Muni then accepted the same knowledge from Manu.

"From the forefathers headed by Bhrgu Muni and other sons of Brahma appeared many children and descendants, who assumed different forms as demigods, demons, human beings, Guhyakas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Caranas, Kindevas, Kinnaras, Nagas, Kimpurusas and so. All of the many universal species, along with their respective leaders appeared with different natures and desires generated from the three modes of material nature. Therefore, because of the different characteristics of the living entities within the universe, there are a great many Vedic rituals, mantras and rewards.

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Many people believe that a person is the brain or some part of the brain. You may be one of them. If so, the following should boggle your mind:
Recent studies on the turnover of the molecular population within a given nerve cell have indicated that ... their macromolecular contingent is renewed about ten thousand times in a lifetime.*
In other words, the matter making up each brain cell is completely renewed every three days.
Your brain—that mass of matter which is contained in your skull today—is not the same brain that was in your skull last week.

Siddhaswarupananda - Jagad Guru Speaks
*Paul Weiss, “The Living System: Determinism Stratified,” in Arthur Koestler and J.R. Smythies, eds., Beyond Reductionism (London: Hutchinson, 1969), p. 13.


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"Thus, due to the great variety of desires and natures among human beings, there are many different theistic philosophies of life, which are handed down through tradition, custom, and disciplic succession. There are other teachers who directly support atheistic viewpoints."

The Lord also said (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.8.10):
"Just as the honeybee takes nectar from all flowers, big and small, an intelligent human being should take the essence from all religious scriptures?"

In the Katha Upanisad (1.2.5) it is said:
"Thinking themselves wise, they wander here and there in the darkness of ignorance. They are blind men led by another blind man."

In Srimad Bhagavatam (2.7.51) it is said:
"O Narada, this science of God, Srimad Bhagavatam, was spoken to me in summary by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and it was spoken as the accumulation of His diverse potencies. Please expand this science yourself."

In the Yoga-vasistha. Third Chapter, Valmiki tells Bharadvaja:
"It is not seen by material eyes. If one is fortunate and his vision becomes cleansed, he will attain transcendental knowledge, renunciation, and liberation."

Aphorisms of the Truth - by Bhaktivinode Thakur part 39

Chapter Five

Siddhanta-prakarana
The Final Conclusion

Sutra 41
Indeed, the scriptures are rays of light from the sun of transcendental knowledge.

Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Here someone may protest: Is it not so that the various scriptures present different philosophers' very different conclusions of what is the highest good for all living entities. What is the use, then, of your attempt in this Tattva-sutra to find there a single final, highest conclusion?
If this is said, then the author of the sutras replies: No. It is not as you say. In this fifth chapter the author of the sutras describes the final conclusion of all knowledge, the conclusion that shows the highest good for all living entities.
In this sutra the word 'hi' may be interpreted to mean either 'indeed' or 'because'. Here the self-manifested original transcendental knowledge of the individual spirit souls is likened to a sun. It is likened to a sun because:

1. It is manifested from the spiritual form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
2. it is self manifested
3. it destroys the darkness of ignorance and
4. it reveals all truths.

All the scriptures are then likened to rays of light emanating from that sun of transcendental knowledge. That is the meaning. In the Upanisads if is said:
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead created the Rg and Sama Vedas."
"The Vedic hymns were born from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Yajur Veda was born from Him."

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Recent studies at the Oak Ridge Atomic Research Center have revealed that about 98 percent of all the atoms in a human body are replaced every year. You get a new suit of skin every month and a new liver every six weeks. The lining of your stomach lasts only five days before it’s replaced. Even your bones are not the solid, stable, concrete-like things you might have thought them to be: They are undergoing constant change. The bones you have today are different from the bones you had a year ago. Experts in this area of research have concluded that there is a complete, 100 percent turnover of atoms in the body at least every five years. In other words, not one single atom present in your body today was there five years ago.*

Science of Identity Foundation - Siddhaswarupananda
* Taken from Guy Murchie, The Seven Mysteries of Life (Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1978), pp. 321-22.


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In the Vedanta-sutra (1.1.3) Lord Vyasadeva explains:
"Because the Supreme is the author of all the scriptures."

I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Narayana, to self-born Brahman, to Narada, who knows the best of all spiritual truths, and to the great sage Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa.
I also offer my respectful obeisances to Madhvacarya and the disciples in his sampradaya. In that sampradaya the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is an ocean of perfect philosophical conclusions, and who manifested His form of Lord Caitanya, came to this earth in the town of Navadvipa. Lord Caitanya's devotees are like soldiers conquering the earth by preaching the Lord's message.
His followers are not attracted to the external things of this world. They are properly renounced. They are intently devoted to Lord Krsna.
They who are eager to find the truth do not limit themselves to their own country or their own community. They are eager to accept the truth and they are not concerned that a speaker of the truth may come from a different community.
They are happy with the truth. They make friendship with persons who are sincere in following the truth. With the help of many saintly friends even the most difficult thing is easily attained.
Among themselves such saintly persons relish talking about the truth. Among themselves they feel great bliss. They attain the wonderful result sought by all communities of spiritual men.
Many are Lord Caitanya's servants in the Madhva-sampradaya. They are all great souls bearing marks that show they do not really belong in this material world.
Because they follow the teachings of the spiritual sampradaya, or because they are not materialistic, these enlightened souls do not bear the marks of the material world.
Self-satisfied and faultless, they wander here and there appearing like madmen to outsiders. They are pure at heart and perfectly renounced, for they know the truth of Lord Krsna. I bow down before their lotus feet.