Creation

Philosophy · asked by user [] · 2008-01-03 · 3 answers

Doesnt the very concept of "Creation" imply that there was a point in time (before creation) that we did not exist. Is this not in contradiction to BG 2.12 (http://vedabase.net/bg/2/12/en) which says that we always existed? If we always existed, then we were never created.

How do I resolve this?

user [149] · 2008-01-03

Please see http://vedabase.net/bg/13/20/en for the resolution of your question.

"Material nature and the living entities should be understood to be beginningless. Their transformations and the modes of matter are products of material nature." (BG 13.20)

Prabhupada writes in the purport: "Both the living entities and material nature existed before this cosmos was manifested. Material nature was absorbed in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mahuc0u257 -Visu803 nu803 u, and when it was required, it was manifested by the agency of mahat-tattva. Similarly, the living entities are also in Him, and because they are conditioned, they are averse to serving the Supreme Lord. Thus they are not allowed to enter into the spiritual sky. But with the coming forth of material nature these living entities are again given a chance to act in the material world and prepare themselves to enter into the spiritual world. That is the mystery of this material creation."

This means that material nature and souls have always existed. They are just manifest (apparently created) and unmanifested (apparently destroyed) according to the cycle of time. It is something like breathing. The air always exists, but according to your breathing it exits your body and again enters your body.

user [238] · 2008-01-03

Thanks. That cleared it.

user [439] · 2009-09-06

Creation is eternal. So the word is actually a misnomer.

Krishna, Maya, Souls are all eternal.

There was never a time when there was no creation. The mind cant conceive it.

Because if something begins, it also has to end.
The temporary universes begin and end, but the process of Creation itself has neither beginning nor end.

Please visit my blog for a brief overview: http://chirpy-cynic.sulekha.com/blog/post/2009/09/god-is-who-bliss-is-where.htm

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