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[Why mayavadis don't believe in personal form?] Regarding the Mayavadis, they accept that the Supreme Truth is Brahman and that ultimately everyone merges into Brahman. However, about 500 years ago, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught the philosophy of acintya-bhedabheda, explaining that there is something beyond the impersonal Brahman. Why don't the Mayavadis accept this conclusion? Why don't they study the authorized literature given by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Goswamis to understand what lies beyond Brahman? What prevents them from reading these scriptures? They often ask whether there is any proof in the Vedas for the Personality of Godhead. How should we understand this?

Topic: Mayavad | Speaker: MPP | Shloka: SB 4.14.28 | Dated: 17 Sep 2024 | Time Stamp: 25:14
Answer
Krishna Himself provides the proof.

In the Bhagavad-gita, He makes two important statements. First, He says that He is the essence of all the Vedas. Second, He explains that He is the compiler of all Vedic literature through Vyasadeva.

The final work compiled by Vyasadeva is Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Vyasadeva himself declares that it is the natural commentary on the Vedanta-sutra.

What is the Vedanta-sutra? It is the concise summary of all the Vedas. The essence of the Vedas is presented in very brief aphorisms—often just a single line. The teachings of the Upanishads and all Vedic knowledge are condensed into these sutras.

If one wants to understand the true meaning of the Vedanta-sutra, especially its personal conclusion, one must study Srimad-Bhagavatam, which naturally explains it.

Consider an example. Suppose I explain how a factory operates. I may describe workers, supervisors, managers, and the managing director, but without mentioning anyone's name. You would understand the structure of the factory, yet you would not know the actual individuals occupying those positions.

Similarly, the Vedanta-sutra describes various principles and positions, but if you want to know who the Supreme Person is, you must study Srimad-Bhagavatam. If you want to know the personalities occupying various positions in creation, you must study the Puranas.

Vyasadeva himself states that Srimad-Bhagavatam is the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic knowledge. A tree produces fruit, and when the fruit is fully ripe, it gives its sweetest taste. Therefore, Srimad-Bhagavatam is the mature and complete presentation of Vedic wisdom.

Mayavadis do read Srimad-Bhagavatam, but they interpret it differently. They may accept that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a great personality, just as they regard other spiritual leaders as exalted souls who ultimately merged into Brahman. Even organizations like the Ramakrishna Mission present Chaitanya Mahaprabhu according to their impersonal understanding.

They even give Krishna mantra—including the Hare Krishna maha-mantra—but they interpret all Vedic literature in such a way that their conclusion remains impersonal Brahman.
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