This tree, being the reflection of the real tree, is an exact replica. Everything is there in the
spiritual world. The impersonalists take Brahman to be the root of this material tree, and from the root, according to Sāṅkhya philosophy, come prakṛti, puruṣa, then the three guṇas, then the five gross elements (pañca-mahā-bhūta), then the ten senses (daśendriya), mind, etc. In this way they divide up the whole material world into twenty-four elements. If Brahman is the center of all manifestations, then this material world is a manifestation of the center by 180 degrees, and the other 180 degrees constitute the spiritual world. The material world is the perverted reflection, so the spiritual world must have the same variegatedness, but in reality. The prakṛti is the external energy of the Supreme Lord, and the puruṣa is the Supreme Lord Himself, and that is explained in Bhagavad-gītā. Since this manifestation is material, it is temporary. A reflection is temporary, for it is sometimes seen and sometimes not seen. But the origin from whence the reflection is reflected is eternal. The material reflection of the real tree has to be cut off. When it is said that a person knows the Vedas, it is assumed that he knows how to cut off attachment to this material world. If one knows that process, he actually knows the Vedas. One who is attracted by the ritualistic formulas of the Vedas is attracted by the beautiful green leaves of the tree. He does not exactly know the purpose of the Vedas. The purpose of the Vedas, as disclosed by the Personality of Godhead Himself, is to cut down this reflected tree and attain the real tree of the spiritual world.Reflection of the real tree
Bhagavad-gita As It Is
BG Chapters 13 - 18
Srimad-Bhagavatam
SB Canto 3
Lectures
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures
Prabhupāda: Finished? Nitāi: Next verse? Prabhupāda: Now explain. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So this material world is a perverted reflection of the transcendental spiritual world. Everything that we find here can somehow..., we can trace its origins to the spiritual world. Just like we have...
Prabhupāda: Therefore it is said, ūrdhva-mūlam. Mūlam means root. Just like from the root the tree grows and becomes expanded. So now, this experience, the mūla is upside and the tree is expanding in this way... Ūrdhva-mūlam. Adhah-śākham [Bg. 15.1]. The branches are down. Here we have got experience, all these trees, the root is down and the branches are spread up. But here is, experience is... That means this material is created not from this matter. From spiritual world.Nectar of Devotion Lectures
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures
Conversations and Morning Walks
1968 Conversations and Morning Walks
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Svarūpa Dāmodara: We say the water. We say the reflection of a real tree.
Dr. Wolf: Right, right.
Prabhupāda: So reflection is not reality and therefore it is compared like that. It is not reality.
Rūpānuga: Otherwise it would be satisfied.
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Rūpānuga: If it was real we would be satisfied with it.
Prabhupāda: Hm.
Devotee (2): So the scientists are engaged in minutely analyzing this mirage, the reflection. They're wasting their time.
Prabhupāda: Yes, now you are right.1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Page Title: | Reflection of the real tree |
Compiler: | Haya , Chris |
Created: | 24 of Sep, 2008 |
Totals by Section: | BG=3, SB=1, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=6, Con=3, Let=0 |
No. of Quotes: | 13 |