52 . THE PATH OF PERFECTION Moderation in Yoga 53

Where is there void? In the Fourteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita sive that it pervades the universe. Therefore, that abode in which
(14.4), Sri Krsna states, there is no sunlight, moonlight, or electricity is beyond this ma-
terial sky. Beyond this material nature is a spiritual nature. Ac-
sarva-yonisu kaunteya ; tually, we know nothing of this material nature, we do not even
murtayah sambhavanti yah know how it was originally formed. So how can we know anything
tasam brahma mahad yonir about the spiritual nature beyond? We have to learn from Krsna,

aham bija-pradah pita who lives there; otherwise we remain in ignorance.
In this Bhagavad-gita, information of the spiritual sky is given.
“It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, How can we know anything about that which we cannot reach?
are made Possible by birth in this material nature, and that Iam Our senses are so imperfect, how can we attain knowledge? We
the seed-giving father.” The seed is originally given by Krsna, just have to hear and accept. How will we ever know who our
placed in the womb of material nature, and thus many living en- father is unless we accept the word of our mother? Our mother
tities are generated. How can one argue against this process? If the says, ‘‘Here is your father,” and we have to accept this. We cannot
seed of existence is void, how has this body developed? determine our father by making inquiries here and there or by at-
Nirvana actually means not accepting another material body. tempting to experiment. This knowledge is beyond our means.
It’s not that we attempt to make this body void. Nirvana means Similarly, if we want to learn about the spiritual sky, God’s
making the miserable, material, conditional body void—that is, kingdom, we have to hear from the authority, mother Vedas. The
converting the material body into a spiritual body. This means en- Vedas are called veda-mata, or mother Vedas, because the knowl-
tering into the kingdom of God, which is described in the Fif- edge imparted therein is like that knowledge received from the
teenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gitd (15.6): mother. We have to believe in order to acquire knowledge. There
is no possibility of acquiring this transcendental knowledge by ex-

na tad bhasayate suiryo perimenting with our imperfect senses.

sa sasanko na pavakah A consummate yogi, who is perfect in understanding Lord
yad gatva na nivartante Krsna, as is clearly stated herein (sdntim nirvana-paramam mat-
tad dhama paramam mama samstham adhigacchati) by the Lord Himself, can attain real peace
and ultimately reach the supreme abode of the Lord. This abode is
‘That abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by known as Krsnaloka, or Goloka Vrndavana. In the Brahma-
electricity. One who reaches it never returns to this material samhita it is clearly stated (goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah)
world.”” that the Lord, although residing always in His abode called
So there is no void anywhere within the Lord’s creation. All Goloka, is the all-pervading Brahman and the localized
the planets in the spiritual sky are self-illumined, like the sun. The Paramatma as well, by dint of His superior spiritual energies. No
kingdom of God is everywhere, but the spiritual sky and the plan- one can reach the spiritual sky or enter into the eternal abode of
ets thereof are all param dhama, or superior abodes. As stated, the Lord (Vaikuntha, Goloka Vrndavana) without properly un-
sunlight, moonlight, or electricity are not required in the param derstanding Krsna and His plenary expansion Visnu. And ac-
dhama. We cannot find such an abode within this universe. We cording to Brahma-samhita, it is necessary to learn from our
may travel as far as possible within our spaceships, but we will not authorized mother, veda-mata. Brahma-samhita states that the
find any place where there is no sunlight. The sunlight is so exten- Supreme Lord is living not only in His abode, Goloka Vrndavana,
