View source for The material world is nothing but...

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{{terms|"the material world is nothing but"}}
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{{compiler|Alakananda}}
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{{first|05Apr11}}
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[[Category:Material World (Prakrti)]]
[[Category:Nothing But]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_4" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 4"><h3>SB Canto 4</h3>
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<div id="SB42463_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1041" link="SB 4.24.63" link_text="SB 4.24.63">
<div class="heading">The material world is nothing but forgetfulness of the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, the creator of everything.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.24.63|SB 4.24.63, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">If the whole creation is one—that is, nothing but the Supreme Lord, or Viṣṇu—then why do the expert transcendentalists make such categories as are found in the above verse:? Why do learned and expert scholars distinguish between matter and spirit? In answer to these questions, Lord Śiva says that spirit and matter are not creations of various philosophers, but are manifested by Lord Viṣṇu, as described in this verse: tvam eka ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ. Spiritual and material categories are made possible by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but actually there are no such distinctions for the living entities who are eternally engaged in the service of the Lord. There is only a material world for those who want to imitate the Lord and become enjoyers. Indeed, the material world is nothing but forgetfulness of the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, the creator of everything. The distinction between matter and spirit is created by the sleeping energy of the Lord when the Lord wants to give some facility to those living entities who want to imitate the Lord in His enjoyment. It is only for them that this material world is created by the dormant energy of the Lord. For instance, sometimes children want to imitate their mother and cook in the kitchen, and at such a time the mother supplies them with some toys so that the children can imitate her cooking. Similarly, when some of the living entities want to imitate the activities of the Lord, this material cosmic manifestation is created for them by the Lord. The material creation is therefore caused by the Lord through His material energy.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_8" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 8"><h3>SB Canto 8</h3>
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<div id="SB8612_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_8" book="SB" index="160" link="SB 8.6.12" link_text="SB 8.6.12">
<div class="heading">The material world is nothing but an expansion of the Lord's material energy, and the entire cosmic manifestation rests upon Him.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 8.6.12|SB 8.6.12, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is nirguṇa, not to be found within this material world, the entire material world is pervaded by Him, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam). The material world is nothing but an expansion of the Lord's material energy, and the entire cosmic manifestation rests upon Him (mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni ([[Vanisource:BG 9.4|BG 9.4]])). Nonetheless, the Supreme Lord cannot be found here (na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ). A devotee, however, can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the practice of bhakti-yoga. One ordinarily does not begin to practice bhakti-yoga unless he has practiced it in previous births. Moreover, one can begin bhakti-yoga only by the mercy of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa. Guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 19.151|CC Madhya 19.151]]). The seed of devotional service is obtainable by the mercy of guru, the spiritual master, and Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
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