For some time, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) had been troubled by a fundamental philosophical dispute over whether God was ultimately impersonal or personal. On the one hand, he had heard some yogis and philosophers profess that ultimately God is impersonal and formless. All form and personality, according to the impersonalists, is a nonpermanent product of material illusion. In the final state of liberation, the soul sheds its temporary identity and becomes one with God, merging into the all-pervading spiritual existence. On the other hand, Richard had also heard other yogis and philosophers profess that God is the Supreme Person, that His spiritual form is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss. At the time of liberation, the soul enters into the kingdom of God where it eternally serves the all-beautiful Personality of God in pure love.
Srila Prabhupada answered his doubt “We must first understand the inconceivable nature of God. The Supreme Lord is simultaneously personal and impersonal. It is an eternal truth that He is both formless and that he has an eternal, blissful form.” Radhanath Swami heard from Srila Prabhupada that the Lord’s impersonal, all-pervading energy is called Brahman. And Bhagavan is the personal form of God, who is the energetic source and never under the influence of illusion. He gave the example of the sun. The form of the sun as a planet and the formless sunlight can never be separated, as they exist simultaneously. They are different aspects of the sun. Similarly, there are two different schools of transcendentalists who focus on different aspects of the one truth. The impersonalists strive to attain liberation in the Lord’s impersonal, formless light, while the personalists strive for eternal loving service to the Lord’s all-attractive form. There is no contradiction. Srila Prabhupada revealed to Richard (now Radhanath Swami) that the two schools, personalists and impersonalists, both approach different aspects of the One God.
Radhanath Swami felt that with these simple and intelligent words, Srila Prabhupada had harmonized two apparently opposing views and completely removed all his confusions.
Radhanath Swami also gives simple examples to explain the profound truths of spiritual sciences. He explains that when we look at a mountain from a distance, we may see a hazy cloud, and if we come nearer, we may see something green. If we actually climb the mountain, we will find many houses, trees and animals. Our vision is of the same mountain, but due to our different positions we see haze, greenery or variety. In the final stage, there are varieties—trees, animals, men, and houses. Similarly the same absolute truth is perceived differently by different seekers. Radhanath Swami once narrated a story to drive home this point:
Once a railway line was laid for the first time in a village. When a train was about to come for the first time, hundreds of villagers gathered. When the train appeared in the distance, one man saw the smoke emanating from the engine at a kilometre’s distance and ran into the village and shouted, “I have seen the train; it is simply a big smoke”. A second man waited longer and observed a bright light coming towards the platform. He ran into the village and proclaimed, “I know what a train is all about. It is just a big bright light. That’s all.” A third man waited longer for the train to arrive at the station. When the train arrived and stopped, he met the driver, who came out from the locomotive. A fourth man, who waited till the end, understood that not only was there a driver, but there were hundreds and thousands of passengers sitting in the bogies connected to the locomotive. Now the fourth man could give a complete picture of what a train was all about. Similarly, a materialist thinks that there is nothing beyond this smoke-like material world. Their philosophy of life is to eat, drink and be merry. The impersonalists know certain truth about God; they think God is a big bright impersonal light. The yogi thinks God is the greatest personality behind the cosmic machinery of this universe. The bhakta or devotee knows another aspect – God and His energies, the material and spiritual, and the sweet loving relationships between the Lord and His part-and-parcel living entities.
Thus the scriptures, when understood under the guidance of sincere seekers of truth do not appear confusing. I am indeed fortunate to read and hear Radhanath Swami regularly.
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Founder-acharya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
“Go to India” a sweet but commanding voice; spoke up in the heart of young Richard (later Radhanath Swami) who was immersed in meditation, his search for meaning in life has brought him to the Isle of Crete. Today he was ordered to go to India. Born and raised in the middle class suburbs of Chicago, Radhanath swami grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s era when popular musicians protested war, prejudice and social injustice. Radhanath swami would listen to these songs again and again, but their lyrics referring to God stirred his soul. Peter, Paul and Mary- the folk trio from Greenswich village sang in their debut album
“Early in the morning, about the break of day
I ask the Lord, to help me find my way”
This simple prayer was to guide Radhanath swami in the coming years of his life........
True personalist realization of God is the highest as described in all the scriptures. But one which is the highest may not necessarily be the easiest to understand. So one requires a self realized soul like Radhanath Swami to lead one to the correct conclusion.
View CommentPersonalism versus impersonalism – this debate is an ongoing subject for thousands of years, which can mislead a spiritual seeker. But under the guidance of true seers like Radhanath Swami and his predecessors, one is saved from going astray
View CommentA true Guru, or a spiritual master, removes all doubts and imparts real knowledge to us. As Srila Prabhupada did with Radhanath Swami, so is the latter doing with his many dedicated followers- bringing all of the closer to GOD with his teachings.
View CommentI agree with Rajat Pr
View CommentSrila Prabhupada charmed the heart of Radhanath Swami Maharaj by resolving the contradiction between impersonal and personal features of the Lord. It is important to understand that diffrent persons may be approaching diffrent aspects of the same God and thus there is no need of conflicts in the name of religion.
View CommentI agree with both Rajath and Ankur, my pals.
View Commentone requires a self realized soul like Radhanath Swami to lead one to the correct conclusion.Thank you swamiji for this wonderful teaching.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has given very nice message here. Thank you very much Radhanath Swami.
View CommentNice example of train….easily understood by people like me.
View CommentH.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai
I just love the analogy between the villagers outlook to a train and the different aspects of God. This example makes it so clear, in such a simple way, the personal and impersonal forms of God.
View CommentThank you very much for sharing.
View CommentEven in christianity it is said that man is made in the image of god so god is definitely a person.
View CommentWonderfully clarified through these three nice analogies
View CommentWonderfully summarized with simple examples.
View CommentThankyou for sharing such a transparent explanation of the most profound philosophy by Radhanath Swami.
View CommentWonderful explanation of God’s all encompassing nature!
View CommentThe Supreme Lord is simultaneously personal and impersonal
View CommentThis is a very simple explanation by HH Radhanath Swami with lucid examples to clearly understand both impersonal and personal features of one God. The story narrated by HH Radhanath Swami of a train is very nice to read and relate to these aspects of God.
View CommentGreat blog. I come back here regularly for enlightening posts….
View CommentRadhanath Swami Fan Club Ki JAI!!!!!
View CommentWhat is God if He cannot be both personal and impersonal, as well as anything beyond our conception? He is omnipotent so He can be whatever He chooses to be!
View CommentOne can only understand God by the guidance and help of saintly people like Radhanath Swami
View Commentthank you
View CommentReally, when heard from saints like Radhanath Swami, scriptures dont appear confusing at all!
View CommentAs we go deeper,we realize the true meaning of all the scriptures….deep study facilitates more and faster progress…..
View CommentSuch deep knowledge explained in such a simple way by Radhanath Swami Maharaj
View CommentWonderful explanation by Maharaj.
View CommentThank you Maharajah for explaining so clearly the true nature of the Lord, Personal as well as impersonal.
View CommentThe analogies of sun, mountain & train clears all misconceptions about whether God is personal or impersonal….thanks…….
View Commentvery nice!
View CommentThank you very much for sharing the words “God and His energies, the material and spiritual, and the sweet loving relationships between the Lord and His part-and-parcel living entities”
View CommentVery nice and simple expression of a profound confusion of many Indians. Thank you!
View CommentBeautiful instructive article…..
View CommentWonderful information for all.
View CommentGreat Analogy..
View CommentVery convincing understanding…Its makes my mind clear of all doubts and now i know that God has an impersonal feature but that is not all about Him, He has a personal form also, far more superior than ours….
Thank you Radhanath swami.
View CommentA self-realized soul like Srila Prabhupada can bring the most complex spiritual topics to the level of the common person, and convince him.
View CommentHow wonderfully Maharaj has expalined the difference between impersonalism and personalism.
View CommentThankyou for sharing such a transparent explanation of the most profound philosophy by Radhanath Swami.
View CommentThank you very much for sharing. Prabhupada says once, by seeing the Krishna’s form how can one say that God is only impersonal.
View CommentThank you very much for sharing. It helps us for preaching.
View Comment