Posted on: 06 Apr 2021
Note: This article is meant for intellectuals only
[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on March 06, 2021, in which several devotees participated. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]
[Kum. Laxmi Thrylokya asked: The Veda says “Ātmanaḥ ākāśaḥ sambhūtaḥ…”, which means that space arose from (was created by) Ātman. This creates a doubt whether space arose from God or the soul, since the word Ātman can refer to either God or the soul. If the Veda would have used the word Parabrahman instead, there would not have been any doubt.]
Swāmi replied: Ātman means the mediated God in this context. The unimaginable God has no form, nature or address. So, one cannot refer to Him directly. If we try to refer to the unimaginable God, there is every danger of the the souls receving the knowledge misunderstanding the statement. Since the unimaginable God cannot be known or even imagined, they might think that He does not exist. It would lead to atheism. In reality, it was the unimaginable God alone who created the eternal space (parama vyoma) that is required for creating the form of the first Energetic Incarnation. This first Energetic Incarnation or mediated God, further created the elemental space required for creation. Of course, the unimaginable God exists in the first Energetic Incarnation or the first mediated God. That unimaginable God who has perfectly merged with the first mediated God, alone created even the elemental space. If I speak about the mediated God creating space, it only means that I am speaking about the unimaginable God creating space. The process of creation itself is unimaginable. The unimaginability of the process of creation itself creates worry in the minds of souls who are trying to understand it. If it is further said that God, the Creator is also unimaginable, it will create extra worry and further confusion in the minds of the souls.