the exponent of the Visishtadvaita philosophy - ebooks - ISKCON ...
the exponent of the Visishtadvaita philosophy - ebooks - ISKCON ...
the exponent of the Visishtadvaita philosophy - ebooks - ISKCON ...
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46 THK LIFE OF IIAMANOJA. CH. Vlll.<br />
keeping <strong>of</strong> God, that very doubt is pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> his want <strong>of</strong> trust in<br />
God. A true believer in God is only he who feels quite sui-c<br />
<strong>of</strong> his soul's safety in His arms, and that his body is a temporary<br />
form begot by Karma,^ ceasing when Karma ceases.<br />
prapanna is thus one who has intellectually divested himself<br />
thus <strong>of</strong> all concern, ei<strong>the</strong>r as regards his<br />
A<br />
soul or his body, Iwth<br />
being in <strong>the</strong> keeping <strong>of</strong> two divergent determining agents.<br />
This i-esigned attitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mind constitutes <strong>the</strong> true prapanna<br />
(believer). Dwell on <strong>the</strong> sense contained in <strong>the</strong> Holy Name<br />
NArfiyana, as it contains <strong>the</strong> sum <strong>of</strong> all divine wisdom. It is<br />
^ KariftO' means act. This is <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong> Christian in order to invest<br />
inherent will in <strong>the</strong> eouI. This God with all-power, demurs to Carina<br />
being owned by <strong>the</strong> soul, is he<br />
will is subjective. This shapes out<br />
an objective, for which matter is <strong>the</strong>n prepared to transfer all Karma<br />
associated with. Like God, Soul is to God, and in order to maintain<br />
eternal, like <strong>the</strong>etcrnality <strong>of</strong> God's that God must create soul, Karini<br />
attributes,— because <strong>of</strong> God's etcrnality.<br />
Kariiia, or will which is exonerated <strong>of</strong> all personal responsi-<br />
and all iu time ? Then <strong>the</strong> soul is<br />
innate in <strong>the</strong> soul, iseteroal with it. bility. It has nei<strong>the</strong>r merit nor<br />
'<br />
A Christian might say : that this demerit ; rewards and punishments<br />
dogma puts a limit to God's power, are not for it. A non-eternal will,<br />
inasmuch as Karma or soul is something<br />
which He. did not make, gates from God's power ra<strong>the</strong>r than<br />
as creation supposes, <strong>the</strong>refore dero-<br />
and <strong>the</strong>refore, circumscribing <strong>the</strong> enhance and glorify it, as when<br />
sovereignty <strong>of</strong> God. Karma becomes<br />
<strong>the</strong>refore ano<strong>the</strong>r "Unknown Time-limitations on God is thas as<br />
He is endowed with eternal will.<br />
God ", containing in itself possibilities<br />
for <strong>the</strong> soul's future, and <strong>the</strong>re-<br />
man with God, postulated by<br />
bad a<strong>the</strong>ism, as that <strong>of</strong> identifying<br />
fore <strong>the</strong> soul can Birire for itself monism. Karma in soul, not originating<br />
in time, and its being so by<br />
without or independent <strong>of</strong> God. In<br />
short, by <strong>the</strong> dogma <strong>of</strong> Karma, God God's eternal will, reconciles at<br />
is made dependent, if not altoge<strong>the</strong>r once, soul's responsibility for his<br />
rendered iiug.atory. Karma <strong>the</strong>refore<br />
is incompatible wich an inde-<br />
power to rule over this state <strong>of</strong><br />
acts (Karma), and God's supreme<br />
pendent sovereign God." To this things as long as He maj' please,<br />
we say, that Karma, by itself as a and reserving to Himself <strong>the</strong> power<br />
fact inherent in <strong>the</strong> soul, eternal which may bo called grac«, by<br />
with it, and as operative oa <strong>the</strong> which to annul Karma in toto, and<br />
destinies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soul, is all that, by ga<strong>the</strong>r His flock to Himself. Eternal<br />
Karma <strong>the</strong>refore is compatible<br />
virtue <strong>of</strong> an eternal God eternally<br />
so willing. If God is capable <strong>of</strong> with sovereign God's Oneness, His<br />
willing something in fnne, his capability<br />
is all <strong>the</strong> more greater,<br />
unrestricted Power and His nncon-<br />
when<br />
lie can will things from all eternitij.<br />
This is oallcd <strong>the</strong> yiitija-sankalpa<br />
power <strong>of</strong> God. With this basis<br />
<strong>the</strong>n. <strong>of</strong> God's eternal will, <strong>the</strong>re is<br />
nothing conlvadiotary or iuterfor.<br />
ing with God's paramouutcy. If<br />
ditional Grace. To call in question<br />
<strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> God to<br />
eternally order things is to limit<br />
Him. To endow Him with eternal<br />
will is to truly conceive <strong>of</strong> His<br />
Intiaite nature. If it still be contended<br />
that Karmri, even when eter-