One absolute truth

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, January 2013, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.31.3)
The one undivided absolute truth, the same truth, is known in three features, either Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan. But all part of the same truth and we understand it like that. Therefore, when we see that Brahman is worshipped exclusively then we realise that this is only a partial understanding, incomplete! There must be Bhagavan as well. The relationship with Brahman can offer brahmananda which basically means relief from material suffering, mukti or liberation, which is of course desirable. Who wants material suffering?

But the relation with Bhagavan, is offering eternal transcendental bliss or sac cid anand.  So therefore, we understand that the realisation of the personal feature is higher because in the impersonal, one reaches a state of Brahman which means free from all material suffering but within that Brahman, there is no further development. That’s it!

Whereas in the Bhagavan relationship, one gets an eternal relationship with Krsna and within that relationship, love is eternally growing because of Krsna’s unlimited qualities, and all the qualities of Krsna are lovable. Each time one discovers a new aspect of Krsna, it is completely overwhelming and lovable. It is just an eternal, transcendental journey. So we can easily understand that the concept of Bhagavan, Krsna, is greater than the concept of realising Brahman. Here we understand Bhagavad-gita 18.54,

that when Brahma-bhutah is realised then that is not satisfying and therefore mad-bhaktim labhate param… then still hungry, still unfulfilled and therefore devotional service comes next… devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.