Love Yourself. Don't Kill Yourself.
The Vedic literatures mention the term atma-ha, killer of the soul. One who does not utilize his human form of life for awakening his dormant loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead is killing his own spiritual life. He is his own worst enemy. So instead of killing ourselves by a life of sense gratification we should love ourselves, our actual spiritual selves, by engaging ourselves in the devotional service of the Lord. This will bring us out of the perpetual deathlike state in karma chakra, the wheel of karma, and bring us into an eternal existence which is full of love, bliss, and knowledge.
Everything you say and teach carries much wisdom and grace, and makes perfect sense. Your student John says that he wants a higher path, and you say that Krishna Consciousness is the highest path, according to Krishna's own teaching. Krishna surely is very, very high, likely the highest of all named divine personalities. Yet Jesus says that no one can come to God except through him. And Muhammad says that he is the last of the prophets, whose teaching supersedes all that came before. Buddha for his part says that there is only one true eight-fold path that leads to authentic realization.
I would suggest that all named gods and prophets and paths are limited and finite. They are confined by their names. This is regardless of what they may say about themselves. Only the nameless and formless Tao is beyond all of these, beyond both gods and duality, the source of both Heaven and Earth. This may be what John is seeking.
Best regards,
Steve M.
Regarding knowledge, kindly note that the original knowledge in this universe is the Vedic knowledge, which was revealed by Lord Krishna to Lord Brahma within his heart at the beginning of this universe 155 trillion years ago. That same knowledge of the Absolute Truth was revealed by Lord Krishna to the sun god Vivasvan millions of years ago and recently again by Lord Krishna to Arjuna 5,000 years ago on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. A portion of that same knowledge was also revealed by Lord Buddha, Lao Tzu, Lord Jesus Christ, and the Prophet Muhammad.
The Absolute Truth is one, and that same Absolute Truth is revealed in varying degrees throughout history according to the degree of realization of the speaker and the understanding capacity of the particular audience. For example, Lord Jesus stated that he had more to reveal to his followers but that they were not ready to hear it yet. There is a similar statement in the Islamic literatures. The Tao Te Ching also describes its own limitations. In contrast to this Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita that He is now revealing the highest knowledge beyond which there is nothing more to be known.
It is interesting that you suggest that all the incarnations and prophets are limited, finite, and confined while you position yourself as someone who knows better than all of them, that the nameless, formless Tao is the highest truth. You find fault with the prophets and incarnations that they are confined by names, and then you turn around and also give a name to the highest truth. This is a philosophical inconsistency which nullifies the strength of your arguments.
You say that the highest path is nameless, but yet you give it a name. You say that the origin of all is formless, but you offer no evidence. We see everywhere that forms come from forms. Just like your present form came from the form of your mother. We see also that forms transform into formlessness. At the time of death your body will decay and go into a formless state. But where is the example of a form arising from formlessness? There is no such example. Therefore your proposition that the origin of everything is formless is not scientific, logical or philosophical. It is dogmatic and therefore rejected by those in learned circles.
And besides the above points, according to the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 56, he who speaks does not know he who knows does not speak. Therefore if you are a true follow of Taoism, you will remain silent. The fact that you have spoken so many words indicates that you are not a true follower of Taoism. Our philosophy is different. Our philosophy is that one who knows the highest truth should loudly broadcast it all over the world to save the suffering, ignorant world population from its current perilous condition. We walk our talk by broadcasting Krishna's teachings all over the world, and we humbly suggest that if you are a true Taoist you will walk your talk as well by not talking. If you hold something to be true you should follow it, not that you say one thing and do something else.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Answers by Citing the Vedic Version
Opinion: Nameless, Formless Tao is the Highest Path
Hello Teacher,Everything you say and teach carries much wisdom and grace, and makes perfect sense. Your student John says that he wants a higher path, and you say that Krishna Consciousness is the highest path, according to Krishna's own teaching. Krishna surely is very, very high, likely the highest of all named divine personalities. Yet Jesus says that no one can come to God except through him. And Muhammad says that he is the last of the prophets, whose teaching supersedes all that came before. Buddha for his part says that there is only one true eight-fold path that leads to authentic realization.
I would suggest that all named gods and prophets and paths are limited and finite. They are confined by their names. This is regardless of what they may say about themselves. Only the nameless and formless Tao is beyond all of these, beyond both gods and duality, the source of both Heaven and Earth. This may be what John is seeking.
Best regards,
Steve M.
Answer: If You Hold Something to be True, Follow It
Thank you very much for opening your heart to me.Regarding knowledge, kindly note that the original knowledge in this universe is the Vedic knowledge, which was revealed by Lord Krishna to Lord Brahma within his heart at the beginning of this universe 155 trillion years ago. That same knowledge of the Absolute Truth was revealed by Lord Krishna to the sun god Vivasvan millions of years ago and recently again by Lord Krishna to Arjuna 5,000 years ago on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. A portion of that same knowledge was also revealed by Lord Buddha, Lao Tzu, Lord Jesus Christ, and the Prophet Muhammad.
The Absolute Truth is one, and that same Absolute Truth is revealed in varying degrees throughout history according to the degree of realization of the speaker and the understanding capacity of the particular audience. For example, Lord Jesus stated that he had more to reveal to his followers but that they were not ready to hear it yet. There is a similar statement in the Islamic literatures. The Tao Te Ching also describes its own limitations. In contrast to this Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita that He is now revealing the highest knowledge beyond which there is nothing more to be known.
It is interesting that you suggest that all the incarnations and prophets are limited, finite, and confined while you position yourself as someone who knows better than all of them, that the nameless, formless Tao is the highest truth. You find fault with the prophets and incarnations that they are confined by names, and then you turn around and also give a name to the highest truth. This is a philosophical inconsistency which nullifies the strength of your arguments.
You say that the highest path is nameless, but yet you give it a name. You say that the origin of all is formless, but you offer no evidence. We see everywhere that forms come from forms. Just like your present form came from the form of your mother. We see also that forms transform into formlessness. At the time of death your body will decay and go into a formless state. But where is the example of a form arising from formlessness? There is no such example. Therefore your proposition that the origin of everything is formless is not scientific, logical or philosophical. It is dogmatic and therefore rejected by those in learned circles.
And besides the above points, according to the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 56, he who speaks does not know he who knows does not speak. Therefore if you are a true follow of Taoism, you will remain silent. The fact that you have spoken so many words indicates that you are not a true follower of Taoism. Our philosophy is different. Our philosophy is that one who knows the highest truth should loudly broadcast it all over the world to save the suffering, ignorant world population from its current perilous condition. We walk our talk by broadcasting Krishna's teachings all over the world, and we humbly suggest that if you are a true Taoist you will walk your talk as well by not talking. If you hold something to be true you should follow it, not that you say one thing and do something else.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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