Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

The material world would finish, would not be manifest anymore?

Bhaktivinode Thakur writes in Chapter 16 of Jaiva-dharma that souls are required to populate the material world in order fulfill Krishna'92s desire for pastimes of saving conditioned souls.

It is something like the example of Arjuna. Although Arjuna was as dear to Krishna as life itself, Krishna still put Arjuna into bewilderment and suffering in order to fulfill His lila of instructing and saving conditioned souls.

Why this question? These verses clearly state what happens. And as per SB 3.6.8 or 11.31.13 theys an unlimited number of them.

Dandavats pranams, brothers
Than you, Deena. Good answer.
The question has important implications to sidhanta, Veda. I would apreciate a reference from Sastras or Acaryas about this question. Thanks in advance.

Reference is already given above. Do you mean an explanation?

dandavats

i would apreciate more explanation and more references from sastras or acaryas (from Prabhupada if possible).

Thanks in advance

I havent found any explanation by previous acaryas. Seems to be a marginal topic.
Afaik, only Suhotra Swami wrote about it:

...the suksma-jiva status is not part of the cycle of 8,400,000 species. Suksma-jiva status is when a soul is covered by such ignorance that no outward life symptoms manifest at all. Life symptoms manifest in bodies of 8,400,000 kinds. So to be a suksma-jiva is to have no body, neither gross nor subtle. One is devoid of awareness and merged into material potential.

...
Your question is answered by Srila Haridasa Thakura (C.c. Antya-lila 3.78-86). Lord Caitanya delivered all sthavara-jangama jivas (moving and non-moving living entities), and promoted the suksma-jivas (undeveloped or unmanifested living entites) to take their place.

Unless some living entities that were liberated by Lord Caitanya have fallen back into the material world, we can understand that the moving and nonmoving living entities now populating this universe were promoted from the suskma state by the Lords mercy.

What is the suskma state? Spirit souls are sarva-gatah (all-pervading). Actually, everything is spirit. Srila Prabhupada confirmed in a conversation with Hansadutta that the material world is constructed of particles of spirit, just as the spiritual world is. But the spiritual atoms of the material world have no sense of Krsna consciousness, therefore they combine to form matter.

These souls merged into the dull material elements are known as undeveloped (suksma). They exhibit no karmic activity. They are not within the cycle of samsara; they are totally ignorant. They can be promoted from that state only by the mercy of the Lord.

Dandavats pranams

Thank you for your research, prabhu. but the question is if is possible that all the jivas can be liberated and the material world will not be manifest anymore. i think now my question is clearer.

Thanks in advance

Srila Jiva Gosvami poses the following question: Since devotional service easily awards one liberation, isnt it possible that everyone will be liberated and the world will no longer exist? The great acarya answers that there is no such danger, since it is very difficult for envious, duplicitous, sensuous persons to faithfully serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and there is no shortage of such people in the world. (SB 10.60.54 p.)

> Thank you for your research, prabhu. but the question is if is possible that all the jivas can be liberated and the material world will not be
> manifest anymore

Using Srila Prabhupadas often used analogy of the prison house, this would be like asking if there were no longer any prisoners, would a government stop building or maintaining prisons? No. Because sure enough they will be needed.

dandavats

good deena. i think another points to not finish the jail or material nature we could add are: the number of jivas are uncountable and the relativity of time. just think that we are in jail or that we can came here always and never be free eternally is unfit to a merciful , loveble God. I can agrre that we fall from Goloka but adding that at some point we will learn the lesson and never come back here again. :)