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Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that to understand the Absolute Truth, one must properly comprehend the Vedic terminology used to describe Him. When the scriptures state that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is ''nirguṇa'', it does not mean He is void or empty, but rather that He is completely free from the contamination of the material modes of nature.

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=== The True Meaning of Nirguṇa ===
The vocabulary of transcendental science must be understood through the proper disciplic succession. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the word ''nirguṇa'' indicates that the Lord has no material qualities, but He simultaneously possesses unlimited, immeasurable spiritual qualities.

* [[Vaniquotes:The word nirguna is important. The Mayavadi philosophers accept the Absolute Truth as nirguna or nirakara. The word nirguna refers to one who possesses no material qualities|The word nirguna is important. The Mayavadi philosophers accept the Absolute Truth as nirguna or nirakara. The word nirguna refers to one who possesses no material qualities.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As described in the beginning of the Vedanta-sutra, the Supreme Person is the origin of all qualities. He is generally called nirguna. Nirguna means "whose qualities are beyond estimation." Guna means "quality," and nir means "beyond estimation"|As described in the beginning of the Vedanta-sutra, the Supreme Person is the origin of all qualities. He is generally called nirguna. Nirguna means "whose qualities are beyond estimation." Guna means "quality," and nir means "beyond estimation."]]
* [[Vaniquotes:He (Krsna) is nirguna, or there are no material qualities in Him, but He is full of transcendental qualities|He (Krsna) is nirguna, or there are no material qualities in Him, but He is full of transcendental qualities.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Vaisnava philosophers say that the Absolute Truth God is described as nirguna because He has no material qualities. This is not to say that He has no spiritual qualities|Vaisnava philosophers say that the Absolute Truth God is described as nirguna because He has no material qualities. This is not to say that He has no spiritual qualities.]]

=== Transcending the Material Modes ===
The Supreme Lord and the living entities share a spiritual nature, but their relationship with material energy differs. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while the conditioned souls are influenced by the material modes (''saguṇa''), the Supreme Lord directs the material energy without ever being affected by it.

* [[Vaniquotes:The living entities, being contaminated by the modes of material nature, are called saguna, whereas Paramatma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is nirguna, not being under the influence of the material modes|The living entities, being contaminated by the modes of material nature, are called saguna, whereas Paramatma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is nirguna, not being under the influence of the material modes.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Supreme Lord Krsna is nirguna, which means that these gunas, or modes, although issuing from Him, do not affect Him. That is one of the special characteristics of Bhagavan, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. BG 1972 purports|The Supreme Lord Krsna is nirguna, which means that these gunas, or modes, although issuing from Him, do not affect Him. That is one of the special characteristics of Bhagavan, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Lord is saguna by His own internal potency, but at the same time He is nirguna, since He is not in touch with the material energy|The Lord is saguna by His own internal potency, but at the same time He is nirguna, since He is not in touch with the material energy.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The material energy works according to His (God's) direction; therefore He can use that energy for His purposes without ever being influenced by any of the qualities of that energy. In this sense He is nirguna, "without qualities."|The material energy works according to His (God's) direction; therefore He can use that energy for His purposes without ever being influenced by any of the qualities of that energy. In this sense He is nirguna, "without qualities."]]

=== Refuting the Māyāvādī Misconception ===
Impersonalists often misinterpret Vedic statements to support their voidist philosophy. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly refutes the Māyāvādī conclusion that the Absolute Truth is ultimately formless, confirming instead that the Lord is the supreme reservoir of all transcendental attributes.

* [[Vaniquotes:The Mayavadi philosophers take the Absolute Truth to be nirguna ("without qualities"), in accordance with the impersonalistic view, but actually the Lord is the reservoir of all good qualities|The Mayavadi philosophers take the Absolute Truth to be nirguna ("without qualities"), in accordance with the impersonalistic view, but actually the Lord is the reservoir of all good qualities.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:For them (monist philosophers), nirguna Brahman means "the impersonal Absolute Truth without any material qualities" and saguna Brahman means "the Absolute Truth that accepts the contamination of material qualities"|For them (monist philosophers), nirguna Brahman means "the impersonal Absolute Truth without any material qualities" and saguna Brahman means "the Absolute Truth that accepts the contamination of material qualities."]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Upanisads describe in different ways the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord. The Absolute Truth, the Supreme Lord, is called nirguna. That does not mean He has no qualities|The Upanisads describe in different ways the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord. The Absolute Truth, the Supreme Lord, is called nirguna. That does not mean He has no qualities.]]

=== The Perfection of Devotional Service ===
By engaging in the loving service of the Lord, one gradually attains His transcendental nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that while empiric philosophers and fruitive workers struggle on the material platform, a pure devotee easily reaches the ''nirguṇa'' spiritual platform through devotional service.

* [[Vaniquotes:All of them (karmis, jnanis and yogis) are trying to be materially perfect, but a devotee very easily comes to the platform of nirguna in devotional service, and consequently for the devotee the results of karma, jnana and yoga become very insignificant|All of them (karmis, jnanis and yogis) are trying to be materially perfect, but a devotee very easily comes to the platform of nirguna in devotional service, and consequently for the devotee the results of karma, jnana and yoga become very insignificant.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Apart from the material platform is the spiritual platform, where the Supreme Being enjoys Himself with His innumerable associates. On that platform there is no trace of material qualities, and therefore that platform is called nirguna|Apart from the material platform is the spiritual platform, where the Supreme Being enjoys Himself with His innumerable associates. On that platform there is no trace of material qualities, and therefore that platform is called nirguna.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Supreme Lord's senses are not so covered. His senses are transcendental and are therefore called nirguna. Guna means the material modes, but His senses are without material covering. BG 1972 purports|The Supreme Lord's senses are not so covered. His senses are transcendental and are therefore called nirguna. Guna means the material modes, but His senses are without material covering.]]

=== Conclusion ===
The Vedic assertion that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is ''nirguṇa'' is a profound glorification of His supreme purity and independence. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that God is entirely free from the restricting and contaminating influence of the three modes of material nature. While the impersonalists falsely imagine the Lord to be void of all attributes, the true understanding is that His forms, senses, and activities are composed of pure, immeasurable spiritual energy. By dedicating oneself to His pure devotional service, the living entity can also transcend material conditioning and attain the eternal ''nirguṇa'' platform.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:God_Is_Nirguna|God Is Nirguna]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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