31 Oct 2015
Shri Surya asked: Some person asked about the first source of human race on this world as whether monkey or God directly. Please clarify this.
Shri Swami replied: Whenever you do research on a topic, it should have some pragmatic value. It should be useful to either Pravrutti or Nivrutti. Pravrutti is the code of conduct in this world by which the society is balanced. Nivrutti is the spiritual path by travelling in which you can obtain God’s grace. Even the subject, History, has some practical value in Pravrutti and hence is maintained as a department. By knowing the practical lives of past people through History, we can understand what is to be done and what is not to be done. Their actions and subsequent results were given in the History. By noting the History, we can have the practical examples that create confidence in us regarding the theoretical concepts. The language also stands as a department because the literature gives us some enjoyment to our minds, which are often strained in this world. Shankara was asked by the Opponent regarding the time of origin of this creation. Shankara replied: What is the use of this point? In what way this helps us in this world or in the upper world? Is it not wasting our time on such topics having no practical value? Some time back, the world evolved. Now, the practically oriented important point is that a way should be evolved out so that we can live happily in this world and also attain the grace of God to become happy in the upper world also. If you do research through debates and discussions on totally useless topic, it is like powdering the flour, which is already powdered (Pishtapeshanameva... ref: Brahma Sutra—commentary).
The reply of Shankara should enlighten us on such topics of no use. Suppose, I tell some source and the source might have been also true, but, due to the impossibility of showing the source to you practically, you will not believe it. You will immediately think the possibility of other source also and the dilemma continues and My answer becomes ineffective. Even if some human incarnation gives you a vision using its unimaginable power, it is again waste of time only since by knowing it, no benefit is going to come to you in anyway. Discussions on such topics are generally done by people having plenty [of] leisure [time] without any work. For such people, some topic for killing the time is essential. When you travel, some people will sell some pulse grains shouting “time killing grains, time killing grains...”. When you purchase those grains and eat them slowly, you are gaining some strength by digesting such protein-rich food. Thus, it is useful for you. Not only that, it will be useful for the seller also, who can earn something for his livelihood. It is not simply time killing item since there is use on both sides. Regarding this time killing topic, neither there is some practical benefit as conclusion in the end for you nor useful for others participating in the debate. No practical benefit can be achieved either in the materialistic life in this world (as in the case of topics of science) nor any practical benefit can be achieved in the spiritual life. Instead of doing discussions on such useless topics, better having a nice sleep so that you will become energetic and fresh for discussions on useful topics.
Of course, I give you the answer for your question based on the scripture so that you will give some weight to the concept. Adam and Eve were created in the beginning. God Himself appeared as Lord Brahma, who is a human form only called as Purusha (Vedic Purushasukta). Perfect human beings were created in the beginning called as sages, who had complete faith in God. Gradually, there was degradation in a major part of the humanity since freedom of the will was given by God (svabhaavastu... Gita). By this freedom only, human beings in majority were spoiled. God gave freedom to Adam and Eve, due to which the fall started. Since all the human beings were not spoiled and several were perfect, you cannot blame God for this. God has given the true knowledge and also perfect intelligence to analyze it and due to this several human beings remained perfect. A question paper set by a scholastic examiner maintaining the standard of the course might have resulted in the failure of several students. Still, some good member of students passed the examination with flying colours. The examination cannot be blamed. God conducted the course to the sages in Kruta Yuga, which is the longest period and giving freedom is like starting the examination and subsequent results were seen in the subsequent periods (Yugas) of time.
After hearing My opinion, do not jump towards the monkey to be the source of humanity due to the activity of the monkey-mind because what I told is the absolute truth spoken by the scripture. Of course, any statement of the scripture should be analyzed deeply to find out the truth. But, what I say here is that you should not waste your time on this topic. If you are convinced that the monkey is the source, I will also join you in accepting such concept. The reason is that it is immaterial whether the human being was created in the beginning or later. It does not make any difference in Pravrutti or Nivrutti. Somehow, today, the human being exists in this world. Let us discuss the topics, which are useful to the human beings either in this world or in the upper world. Be a scientist for this world or a philosopher for the upper world.
In the four requisites of the discussion (Anubandhachatushtayam), the last one is ‘use’ (Prayojanam). The other three requisites are eligibility of the participant (Adhikaari), context (Sandarbha) and the subject (Vishaya). Hence, the use of discussion on the topic is very important.
Shri Anil asked: If a person does not take non-vegetarian food due to the attained realization and still the rest [of] family members continue the non-vegetarian food, does the person share the sin due to procurement of non-vegetarian food from the shop for the family members?
Shri Swami replied: The person does not share the sin in such referred case. Even if the person refuses to bring the non-vegetarian food from outside for the family, the family members will get the non-vegetarian food through a servant. The servant does not share the sin because it is her/his duty to bring the ordered item by the family members from the butcher’s shop. She/he is not eating that and hence not encouraging the slaughter of birds and animals by the butcher. The servant will bring any item from outside-shops whether it is vegetarian food or non-vegetarian food or some other fancy item. The servant is not involved in the selection of the item that is to be bought and brought from the shop. The duty of the servant is merely getting any item from the shop desired by the family members. The person (perhaps the owner of the family) is equal to the servant to bring any item liked by the family. The servant is detached from the welfare of the family. But, the owner is a well-wisher of the family and should try to convince the family about the truth and merit of the concept. If the family is reluctant to such concept, the owner should keep silent for sometime following the ignorance of the family and should try for its welfare waiting for the proper time. Even God does the same since all the humanity, being His children, is His family only (Aham bijapradah— Gita). Shri Shirdi Sai Baba never ate non-vegetarian food but got non-vegetarian food prepared for the visiting non-vegetarian devotees and here Baba does not share the sin. In the same way, the owner does not share the sin.
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