Devotee: If we're eternally individual, so how do the impersonalists, upon attaining their goal, merge into the impersonal brahma-jyotir?
Prabhupāda: That is their sign of less intelligence. Therefore we call the impersonalist as less intelligent. Just like the same example: the child is thinking that the constable is very important man. Similarly, the impersonalists are less intelligent in this sense, that what is this brahma-jyotir?
The brahma-jyotir is combination of atomic spiritual sparks, just like sunshine is combination of molecular shining particles. This is scientific. Anything you take, either take sunshine or fire or water, you'll find atomic, even earth, they are all atomic, small, very small parts. Similarly, the brahma-jyotir is combination of the atomic spiritual sparks who are individual living entities.
So they may merge into that existence of brahma-jyotir, but because every individual living entity has got individual desires, therefore they cannot exist very long in that individual condition . . . I mean to say, impersonal condition. That is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ (SB 10.2.32).
Any person who is thinking that by merging, or one who has already merged into the brahma-jyotir, he has become liberated, Bhāgavata says that is not intelligent, what to speak of liberation. He says, ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninaḥ. Vimukta-māninaḥ means he is simply falsely thinking that he is liberated. Māninaḥ. Just like you think yourself, just like so many rascals, he is thinking, "I am God." You see? "I am God."
So this is only thinking. Actually they do not know what is God. Otherwise they would not have dared to say that, "I am God." They do not know the meaning of "God." You see? Therefore they are less intelligence. They are thinking, "I am merged into the . . ." Just like the rabbit. The rabbit, when he is faced with some enemy, he closes his eyes. He thinks, "Now I am safe." (laughter) (laughs) The rascal animal thinks that he is safe now. "I cannot see the enemy."
Just like a child. When there is something fearful, the child—it is nature—closes the eyes. I have practical experience. When I was young man I went to the zoo with my little son, and as soon as there was a tiger cage, oh, the child closed the eyes. Yes. He could not bear the vicious sight. This is natural.