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Brahma means life. So everything is life. The basis, basis of everything. Just like my body is depending on my life. Therefore the whole cosmic material manifestation is also depending on God. So matter is another energy of life. That we practically see

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"'Brahma means life. So everything is life. The basis, basis of everything. Just like my body is depending on my life. Therefore the whole cosmic material manifestation is also depending on God. So matter is another energy of life. That we practically see"

Conversations and Morning Walks

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Life is also matter, or we say, "Matter is also life." We say that. Sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma (Chāndogya Upaniṣad 3.14.1). Brahma means life. So everything is life. The basis, basis of everything. Just like my body is depending on my life. Therefore the whole cosmic material manifestation is also depending on God. So matter is another energy of life. That we practically see. So in that sense we can say that matter is also life. That we can say. Or obvertly, we can say, "Life is matter." That we can accept.


Prabhupāda: Everything, logy means science. So theology is also science. Why they reject theology, "Yes, you are talking . . ."? What kind of scientist you are? It is a "logy," it is a science. Why you are giving preference to one "logy" to another? What kind of scientist you are? Even though I am talking of theology, why should you reject it? In Vedic knowledge, "logy" is the basic . . . nyāya-prasthāna, śruti-prasthāna, smṛti-prasthāna. These are the three ways of understanding the Absolute Truth.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Logic and argument?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Nyāya-pra . . . just like Vedānta-sūtra, it is logic and argument to approach the Absolute Truth. Athāto brahma jijñāsā: "Now it is the time for inquiring about Brahman." This is logic. Because other animals, they cannot inquire about the Absolute Truth, but human being can. Therefore the first proposition is, atha . . . ataḥ, "Now, because you have got human form of life, therefore you should now inquire about the Absolute Truth." This is the beginning. It is logic. And actually we feel, "Who has created the ocean? Who has created the star? How it is floating? Whether there are human being?" So many questions. So that should be solved now.

And actually they are doing, the scientist. Scientist means they are also trying to solve so many problems. So that is . . . human being can be scientist, not a dog can be scientist. So why not become the supreme scientist to know the Absolute Truth? That is Vedānta-sūtra. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. Now you propose that, "Why don't you accept that life begins from life?" What is their objection? This is also theory, and why not accept this theory? And now let us compare which theory is feasible. Why you are afraid?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: They are silent.

Prabhupāda: Biased. Rascal biased.

Karandhara: They say life is also matter.

Prabhupāda: Life is matter, that's all right. But produce from matter life. That you cannot do. Life is also matter, or we say: "Matter is also life." We say that. Sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma (Chāndogya Upaniṣad 3.14.1). Brahma means life. So everything is life. The basis, basis of everything. Just like my body is depending on my life. Therefore the whole cosmic material manifestation is also depending on God. So matter is another energy of life. That we practically see. So in that sense we can say that matter is also life. That we can say. Or obvertly, we can say, "Life is matter." That we can accept.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Matter is a part of life? A part of life. A component.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Just like this nail is coming. This is matter. But it is coming from life. Because the body is in life, therefore the nail is coming, daily growing. Any child can understand. When this body is dead, no more nail will grow. Therefore this is matter coming from life. This body grows because the life is there. Life is there.

If there is no life, the body will not grow. So it's natural conclusion that matter grows upon life. And because matter is the cause . . . life is the cause and matter is the effect, therefore as in the effect the cause is there . . . just like cotton. Cotton is the cause, and the thread is the effect. In the thread there is cotton. That is understood. Similarly, because life is the cause, matter is the effect, therefore in the effect there is life—in another form.

Karandhara: They say there is no difference between that life and that matter.

Prabhupāda: No, how can you say, rascal? Then you are rascal immediately. There is so much difference. Then immediately you talk like rascal. There is difference. You have to accept superior, inferior. Just like two things. When you go to purchase something, the shopkeeper gives you, "Here is superior." Although there is no difference, but there is difference of superiority and inferiority. That you have to accept. Therefore you pay more price to the superior. How there is no difference? This is another rascaldom. You have to distinguish between superior and inferior.

Karandhara: Well, they say it is all made up of the same elements.

Prabhupāda: That is all right, but why do you pay more? That is difference. Question is difference. You have to accept difference. Why do you pay more for the superior thing? That is difference. Why do you pay more respect to a superior person? That is difference. Mr. Nixon is also a human being, you are also human being. But if Mr. Nixon immediately comes, we shall all pay him respect. Why? That is difference.

Karandhara: That's all on the same plane.

Prabhupāda: That's all not. That not all. He is the superior; he is getting respect. Therefore he is not equal to you. You cannot say that. You may say . . . a rascal may say that, "A superior person is as good as I am." But people will not accept it. People will say, "No, you are a rascal. He is an intelligent." Although you have got two hands, he has got two hands, that doesn't matter. So you must distinguish between superior and inferior. We say it is one, but superior and inferior.

Page Title:Brahma means life. So everything is life. The basis, basis of everything. Just like my body is depending on my life. Therefore the whole cosmic material manifestation is also depending on God. So matter is another energy of life. That we practically see
Compiler:Shyamaharshini
Created:2015-07-21, 09:19:57
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=1, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1