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The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Himself this cosmos, and still He is aloof from it.

During the evening, as the temple room reverberated with a thunderous sundara-arati kirtana, Acyutananda Swami, Pushta Krishna Swami and I had a debate on the balcony about whether everything in the material creation is actually spirit or not. Acyutananda Swami, a witty, brilliant speaker, argued that everything is not spirit, at least not in the sense that spiritual means everything is conscious. Thinking that everything made of matter is conscious, he said, could lead to madness. You might walk around on tip toes not wishing to hurt the floor, or you might hesitate to close the door, not wishing to hurt the door. In this way, Maharaja spoke quite convincingly that matter is not spirit. 

Later I went in to see Srila Prabhupada to get a proper understanding. When I put the question to him, he immediately cited Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.20. He had me read it aloud: "The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Himself this cosmos, and still He is aloof from it. From Him only has this cosmic manifestation emanated, in Him it rests, and unto Him it enters after annihilation. Your good self knows all about this. I have given only a synopsis." He then explained that everything is spirit, and thus everything is conscious. The material energy is conscious, but undeveloped. It can develop consciousness by Krishna's will. Prasadam is matter but changes into spirit, and it is therefore conscious. He gave me an example he used a few days ago, how the body produces skin and nails: one is sensitive and the other insensitive. Cut one and you feel pain, cut the other and you feel nothing. Yet the body as a whole is conscious. The universe is Krishna's body and thus is conscious. Jivas, the individual souls, are very minute consciousness, but there is also "mass consciousness." If you touch a stone it is conscious, yet unconscious, or undeveloped. The term "matter" simply indicates the state of one of Lord Krishna's eternal spiritual potencies. I left his room happy in mind and gratified in heart. This is one of the advantages of being with him personally, all doubts can be immediately resolved. 

As disciples, we may read Srila Prabhupada's books yet still end up speculating. But a few direct words from His Divine Grace and everything becomes clear. He always refers to a scriptural verse when asked a question and has the purport read out. It invariably explains the point perfectly. Srila Prabhupada is intimately familiar with everything in each of his books, and his deep realizations enable him to answer every question to one's complete satisfaction. 

Prabhupada is a reservoir of information on all topics. He has quotes and meaningful comments to make on all varieties of topics, and with just a few words he can enlighten his eager listeners on any subject. He has a clear vision of what constitutes the best qualities and attributes required by man for peaceful and successful human life. His observations on culture and education are especially penetrating. He likes to quote the great sage Canakya, whose writings offer penetrating observations on the psychology of human living.


Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 1 by Hari Sauri Dasa