fruit, cause is tree

Imported quote 15735

From the very beginning of the Vedanta Sutra it is accepted that the cosmic manifestation is a display of the energy of the Supreme Lord. In the very beginning, Janmadyasya, it is described that the Supreme Brahman is That from Whom everything is taking appearance. Everything is being maintained and everything is dissolved in Him. The Absolute Truth is the Cause of Creation, Maintenance, and Dissolution. The cause of the fruit is the tree. When the tree produces a fruit it does not mean that the tree is impersonal. The tree produces many hundreds and thousands of fruits but it remains as it is. The fruit is produced, developed, stays for some time, dwindles, and then vanishes. That does not mean that the tree has vanished. From the very beginning, therefore, the purpose of the Vedanta Sutra is the exposition of the doctrine of by-products. These activities of production, maintenance and dissolution are going on by the inconceivable energy of the Supreme Lord. The cosmic manifestation is a transformation of the energy of the Supreme Lord, although the energy of the Supreme Lord and the Supreme Lord Himself are non-different and inseparable. An example is the touchstone which produces great quantities of gold by contact with iron-but still the touchstone remains as it is. The Supreme Lord, therefore, in spite of His producing the huge material cosmic manifestation, is always in His transcendental Form. (More...)

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