How is Paramatma realization an evolution from Brahman realization?
Podcast
Transcript
This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
If Brahman, Paramatman, the localized aspect has formed, so how is that an evolution for the seeker from the Brahman to the Paramatman and towards the Bhagwan level? See things in analysis are very categorical. Like this, this, this.
But in actual experience, it may not be that linearly progressive. Because the spiritual journey is not just a straight path. Like an airplane may decide this is the route we are going to take.
But sometimes the storms are there or something like that. They may be off route and they may come back again on route. So that’s how it works.
So in my understanding, broadly speaking, that when we understand that there is an eternal level of reality, that is the Brahman realization. Either I am eternal or this absolute truth is eternal. But then when we understand, remember in the Aishwarya Upanishad, the absolute truth with material potency is Paramatman.
Absolute truth with material potency is Bhagwan. So when we understand that absolute truth is not just an ocean of effulgent existence, but that ocean, that absolute truth is also a conscious being who is present with me as my companion, who is observing me, who is guiding me. That is a step forward.
Now, at this level, because the idea of spiritual emotions and spiritual affection has not directly awakened. Because we can move from negative axis to zero to positive axis. So there are material emotions, then there is zero and there is positive emotions.
So for a devotee, we don’t treat the Paramatma as a neutral judge. We can say the Paramatma is Krishna. Krishna is personally caring for us.
Krishna is personally guiding us. And Krishna is personally helping us move forwards. So similarly, we can say that for that seeker who is not yet aware of the personal aspect of the absolute, then the Paramatma will act more like a neutral judge.
Neutral observer, as Krishna says, Upadrashtanvantaja. He is the observer, the overseer and the permitter. So because there is an understanding that it is not just an ocean of eternal existence, but there is a conscious being in the heart.
So because of that understanding, there is a greater clarity. There is not full clarity because we have not yet realized the personal aspect of the absolute and the reciprocation of the personal aspect. But at least there is consciousness.
Sat, chit and ananda. So just like a judge in a court is very conscious and alert. But a judge will not be emotional or delighting that this criminal was punished or angry.
So certainly the person in the witness box is aware that the judge is conscious, the judge is observing. It’s not that the judge is neutral. But the judge is not expected to be very personally bound with the criminals.
He is person but he is not personally bound. Yeah, he is not personally bound because his job is more to be neutral. The judge gets emotionally involved in the case.
Then it’s well known that emotions can actually distort judgment. So similarly, in this case, it’s a more of a understanding that God, that there is a supreme conscious being and that God being is observing me. And that being is one who I want to be treated on.
So because it’s more an idea of meditation than reciprocation. It’s more meditation. Just, oh, there is this conscious being.
It’s so attractive. I want to meditate on it. But there is no reciprocation sense.
That’s why it’s also said that if the paramatmavadis move upwards, somehow associated with Bhagwan, associated with the bhaktas of Bhagwan, they may often go to the shantaras. They may become trees in the spiritual world. Where they observe and meditate on the Lord.
Because that mood of service is so much not there. It’s more of, there is appreciation of the personal aspect. But there is awareness of consciousness.
But there is more of meditation than reciprocation. And this is the progression, dhimahi. That’s the first verse of the Bhagavatam.
And the third verse of the Bhagavatam is, pipat tasamalyam, drink the nectar. So dhimahi is meditation. Pipat is drink, relish.
That’s reciprocation. So the journey of spiritual evolution goes from meditation towards reciprocation and relishing.