No Lights To Show The Way

“Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.41)

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यद् यद् विभूतिमत् सत्त्वं
श्रीमद् ऊर्जितम् एव वा
तत् तद् एवावगच्छ त्वं
मम तेजो-ऽंश-सम्भवम्

yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaṁ
śrīmad ūrjitam eva vā
tat tad evāvagaccha tvaṁ
mama tejo-‘ṁśa-sambhavam

You can use any variation of the following game, but the same underlying principle applies. You have a father playing with their child. Something like hide and seek, but with the complexity increased.

To start, the father scatters various items around the room. A clean towel. An empty box. Some plush toys. They also place a laptop computer on top of the coffee table in the center of the room. Lest anyone fear, this device no longer functions properly. It won’t even boot up.

After preparation is complete, the father asks the child to close their eyes. They happily oblige, following which they are led into the room. The child is then told to stand in the corner, whereupon the father shuts off the lights and closes the door.

It is nighttime so the child cannot see anything. They are asked to go around the room carefully and try to identify the different objects. After a certain amount of time has passed, the father will enter, lead the child out, and then compile a list of what was found.

After that, both father and child re-enter the room, turn the lights on and review how many successful matches were made. In this iteration, the child actually does very well. They correctly identify most of the objects. They had an issue with the laptop computer on the table, though. They had no idea what it was. Even looking at it now, with the lights turn on, they are puzzled:

“Dad, what is that? I have never seen it before. It’s this giant rectangle, and it seems to be kind of heavy. What is it used for?”

Because of their age they have yet to experience interaction with a computer. They are not familiar with the device. The father can try to explain, but a complete understanding will only occur after a lengthy period of interaction.

We can use this game to try to put into proper perspective the advances of modern science, especially with respect to the workings of the universe and its origin. Tremendous progress has been made. Man can now soar through the skies, travelling great distances in a short amount of time. They can tackle diseases which were previously incurable. They can grow food at an alarming rate, with one country producing enough to feed the entire world.

Yet that information barely scratches the surface. The living being does not have experience of the creation of the universe. We see the vast complexity and the amazing scientific laws built into every aspect, but there is no information as to the designer. We don’t know who created everything, let alone how.

Shri Krishna provides a similar perspective in the Bhagavad-gita. After explaining that He is the origin of everything and that the work of the entire world is accomplished by Him without effort, He reminds the disciple Arjuna that everything we see is but a spark of His splendor.

Even that comparison is not entirely accurate. A spark is juxtaposed with a larger source, but in this case the source is infinitely great. You cannot really compare this universe to anything since we have not seen how many universes exist. The same applies with time, moving forward and backward.

Just as the father explained to the child about the unknown object that was the computer, the descending process of parampara reveals to me that with which I have no experience. I will never get to witness the creation, but others have. I do not see how God creates, but I don’t need to. He explains it to me.

There is no research path in this area; the information is already there. It gets passed down in a chain of teachers. For this reason one of the prayers to the spiritual master is that he opens my darkened eyes. I was born in the darkness of ignorance, and now I have found the light. The source of that light is Bhagavan, who is beyond the ability to measure.

In Closing:

No more with speculation to fight,
From guru found the light.

Previously in darkness of ignorance,
Words of shastra with resonance.

So that even of creation to know,
Without time travelling to go.

Everything on the table explaining,
Wisdom from parampara attaining.