Knowledge Means to Know Matter, Spirit and the Controller of Both
In the darkness of ignorance, the conditioned soul identifies the self with the material body. This misconception is the root of all suffering. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that true knowledge begins with the analytical study of the difference between the inert material energy and the conscious spiritual force. However, this knowledge finds its perfection only when one understands the source and controller of both energies—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
Combination of Existence
Our present experience is a mixture of superior and inferior energies. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a human being is essentially a combination of spirit and matter. The presence of the soul makes the body appear alive, but as soon as the spirit departs, the body returns to being a lump of dead matter.
- A living man means spirit and matter combined. And a dead man means the matter is there; spirit is gone. So you can distinguish what is spirit and what is matter. So similarly, there is, as this is material world, there is another spiritual world.
- Because human life is a combination of matter and spirit soul, the whole process of Vedic knowledge is directed at liberating the spirit soul from the contamination of matter. The knowledge concerning this is called atma-tattva.
- Everything - includes living entities and inert matter. Both matter and the living entities come from Krsna. Indeed, the whole world is a combination of matter and spirit, prakrti and the living entity.
Real Knowledge vs. Ignorance
Modern education focuses almost exclusively on the manipulation of material elements, ignoring the spirit that animates them. Śrīla Prabhupāda defines this as ignorance. Real knowledge, or jñāna, is the ability to distinguish between the temporary field of activities (matter) and the eternal knower of the field (spirit).
- As it will be explained in later chapters, it will be clear that knowledge means to know matter and spirit and the controller of both.
- Jnana, knowledge, means distinguishing between spirit and matter. And this knowledge should be cultivated and taken full advantage in this life. That is succesful life.
- Unless one has been trained in geology, one cannot detect gold in stone. Similarly, unless one has been trained by a spiritual master, he cannot understand what is spirit and what is matter.
Common Source
Although matter and spirit appear contradictory—one being dead and the other living—Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that they share a common origin. Both are emanations of the Supreme Brahman. Because they emanate from the Absolute Truth, they are ultimately nondifferent from Him, yet they function as distinct energies within the cosmic manifestation.
- According to the Vedic injunctions, aitadatmyam idam sarvam, sarvam khalv idam brahma: everything is the Supreme Brahman. Therefore, both the body and the soul are Brahman, since matter and spirit emanate from Brahman.
- Everything that exists is a product of matter and spirit. Spirit is the basic field of creation, and matter is created by spirit.
- One must understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is factually the original source of both matter and spirit.
Supreme Controller
Śrīla Prabhupāda notes one more point regarding the crucial difference between the living entity and the Lord: the living entity can be conditioned by matter, whereas the Lord is the controller of matter. Kṛṣṇa is all spirit. His potency is such that He can transform matter into spirit, as seen in the worship of the arcā-vigraha (Deity). For Him, there is no duality.
- The Personality of Godhead, the original source of all energies, is able to convert spirit into matter and matter into spirit. For Him there is no difference between matter and spirit. He is therefore called kaivalya.
- Arca-vigraha form may be seen as material by the imperfect eyes of foolish people or kanistha-adhikaris, but such people do not know that the Lord, being omnipotent and omniscient, can transform matter into spirit and spirit into matter, as He desires.
- For Krsna, everything is spiritual. Krsna has no material body. It is for us to distinguish between matter and spirit.
Conclusion
The analytical study of matter and spirit (sāṅkhya), Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts, is not meant for mere philosophical speculation. Its purpose is to lead the soul to the Supreme Person. By understanding that we are spirit souls encaged in matter, and by surrendering to the Controller of both, we can transcend the material conception of life and return to our original, spiritual nature.
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 Matter and Spirit. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.