View source for If I endeavor to understand what is Absolute Truth, my means of understanding are the senses. But the senses are imperfect. Therefore whatever knowledge I gather by exertion of these senses, that is imperfect. That is not perfect

<div id="compilation">
<div id="facts">
{{terms|"if I endeavor to understand what is Absolute Truth, my means of understanding are the senses. But the senses are imperfect. Therefore whatever knowledge I gather by exertion of these senses, that is imperfect. That is not perfect"}}
{{notes|}}
{{compiler|Soham}}
{{complete|ALL}}
{{first|2023-02-06T12:32:12Z}}
{{last|2023-02-06T12:32:12Z}}
{{totals_by_section|BG=0|SB=0|CC=0|OB=0|Lec=1|Con=0|Let=0}}
{{total|1}}
{{toc right}}
[[Category:Endeavoring for God]]
[[Category:Understand the Absolute Truth]]
[[Category:What is the Absolute Truth]]
[[Category:Means Of]]
[[Category:Imperfect Senses]]
[[Category:Therefore]]
[[Category:Whatever]]
[[Category:Knowledge]]
[[Category:Gather]]
[[Category:Exertion]]
[[Category:Not Perfect]]
[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - SOHAM]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Some of them are satisfied with impersonal feature. The philosophers, jñānīs, they, because they want to understand the Absolute Truth by dint of their imperfect knowledge. Because we are in this conditioned state, our senses are imperfect. Therefore whatever knowledge we gather, that is imperfect. That is not perfect. So if I endeavor to understand what is Absolute Truth, my means of understanding are the senses. But the senses are imperfect. Therefore whatever knowledge I gather by exertion of these senses, that is imperfect. That is not perfect.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:690108 - Lecture BG 04.11-18 - Los Angeles|690108 - Lecture BG 04.11-18 - Los Angeles]]
</div>
<div class="text">
The same example as I have given several times in these classes, that the light, sunlight, is realized first of all as sunshine. Then if you can go further the sun planet, up to the sun planet, that is localized aspect. And if you enter into the sun planet, then you'll find the sun-god is there. He is person.

The same example is in the case of Absolute Truth. The impersonal realization is not ultimate realization. Ultimate realization is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is supported in Brahma-saṁhitā: yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi (Bs. 5.40).

By expansion of Lord's personal effulgence, the Brahman realization is there.

So the original verse says that, "All of them, as they surrender unto Me, I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects." This means that everyone is searching after that Absolute Truth. Some of them are satisfied with impersonal feature. The philosophers, jñānīs, they, because they want to understand the Absolute Truth by dint of their imperfect knowledge.

Because we are in this conditioned state, our senses are imperfect. Therefore whatever knowledge we gather, that is imperfect. That is not perfect. So if I endeavor to understand what is Absolute Truth, my means of understanding are the senses. But the senses are imperfect. Therefore whatever knowledge I gather by exertion of these senses, that is imperfect. That is not perfect.

So the persons who are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by exercising their imperfect knowledge, they reach up to the impersonal conception. And persons who are still further advanced, just like yogīs: they are trying to meditate upon the localized aspect of the Absolute Truth, the Paramātmā, the Supersoul, they're little further advanced. But persons who have realized the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are supposed to be the ultimate realizer. So God is realized by all of them, but not on the same level.

The example, another example: Just like from a very distant place you see one hill. You will find just like it is a cloud. If you go further near you will see it is something green. And if you reach the mountain, then you will see there are so many trees, so many animals, houses and living beings. The same example can be given here. One who is observing the Absolute Truth from a very distant place, their conception is impersonal. One who is further advanced, their conception is localized. God is situated in everyone's heart. That is localized.

Therefore Kṛṣṇa says that, "My way is followed by everyone." The impersonalists, they are also aiming to the same goal, and the yogīs or the localized realizer, they are also aiming the same goal. But the devotees, they have reached the same goal. That is the difference. The impersonalists or the yogīs, they could not reach the final goal. But the devotees, they have reached the final goal. Therefore you will find in the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate ([[Vanisource:BG 7.19 (1972)|BG 7.19]]):

"After many, many births of transcendental realization, one surrenders unto Me, accepting vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti ([[Vanisource:BG 7.19 (1972)|BG 7.19]]), Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, is everything." Sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ. "That sort of mahātmā, great soul, is very rare."
</div>
</div>
</div>