The Nature of the Absolute

In the mornings I am often visited by subtle entities. Sometimes they are malignant, taunting me or tempting me, sometimes benign, asking questions or offering advice. This morning I had an interesting conversation with an pious, inquisitive visitor.

This Morning's Visitor (arguing with friend and asking me for my opinion): Did God create man in a void, or was there something here already?

Me: The Bible at least tells us that there was something here, the Bhagavatam also. These things tell us something about the time of the creation of man. We may or may not believe these accounts. However, and more importantly, the creation of man definitely tells us something about the nature of the creator.

Gilbert Bilezikian, Wheaton Theological Seminary scholar and teacher of Bill Hybels, the founding pastor of American Protestant mega-church Willow creek, writes in his book "Beyond Sex Roles: What the Bible Says About a Woman's Place in Church and Family":

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them."

- Genesis 1.27

Lesson: From intention (v. 26) God moves to action, as the moment for the creation of
humans arrives. The design calls for "man" (singular) made in His image (note the double parallelistic emphasis on the "image"). Then the divine decree crystallizes into action and (surprise!) the result is not one person, but two. The original order called only for the creation of "man"; but because the product had to conform to the specifications of the divine image, "man" inevitably came as male and female.

In other words, the male/female sexual differentiation reflects realities contained within the very being of God and derived from His image. Femaleness pertains to the image of God as fully as maleness. God is neither male nor female. He transcends both genders since they are both comprehended within His being.

According to the logic of Vedanta, nyaya, this is the "logic of cause and effect" - an effect must be pre-present in its cause. Since God is the cause of this world, and we see that a male and female dipolarity pervades it, this dual nature must be present in the Supreme.

Therefore the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is the best prayer, because it addresses both the masculine and feminine aspects of the Supreme. Hare refers to the feminine aspect, and Krishna and Rama to the masculine aspect. The two are both present and balanced in perfect harmony in this prayer:

The other day Krishna-kirti posed a polemic: "So, I think that women should be given the same opportunity as men to realize their full, human potential."

This is not simply the opinion of a limited, imperfect human being, it is an order of the Supreme Lord through scripture. Vedanta-sutra (1.1.1) states:

athatho brahma jijñasa

"Having obtained this human form of life, now inquire into the nature of the Absolute."

No distinction is made between persons of different genders here - all are commanded to do this. The full human potential means to reawaken our forgotten relationship with the Supreme Couple, Radha and Krishna.

OK, now off to Mangals and some hot yoga!