The Universal Principles of Eternal Law
Beyond the specific teachings revealed through the life and conduct of Lord Rsabhadeva, the Fifth Canto also presents the fundamental eternal principles that govern all existence and that remain constant regardless of changes in material circumstances or the passage of time. These universal principles, known as sanātana-dharma or eternal law, represent the constitutional nature of all beings and define the path through which any conscious entity can achieve liberation and eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. These principles transcend all particular cultures, religions, and systems of belief, representing truths that are universally applicable to all conscious beings at all times.
The first fundamental principle is that all beings possess an eternal spiritual nature that exists independently of material circumstances. The spiritual soul within each body is uncreated, indestructible, and eternal, never undergoing birth or death but only passing through various material bodies as one changes clothes. This principle establishes that the deepest truth of one's existence is spiritual, not material. One's true identity is as an eternal conscious entity in relationship with the Supreme Lord, not as the temporary material body that one temporarily inhabits. Recognition of this truth is the beginning of all genuine spiritual awakening.
The second universal principle is that all beings are simultaneously one with and different from the Supreme Lord. The spiritual soul is an eternal emanation of the Lord's being and shares the Lord's essential spiritual nature. However, the individual soul is not identical with the Supreme Lord but remains eternally a dependent part of the whole, eternally related to the Supreme in a relationship of loving service. This principle establishes both the ultimate unity of all consciousness and the eternal distinctiveness of individual beings, resolving the apparent contradiction between monistic and dualistic spiritual philosophies.
The third universal principle is that all beings possess an eternal constitutional engagement or relationship with the Supreme Lord. The highest fulfillment of existence does not consist in achieving personal happiness, success, or even liberation in an impersonal sense, but rather in discovering one's eternal position in relation to the Supreme and engaging in the activities that constitute one's authentic nature. For some beings, the eternal constitutional engagement is in the mood of pure devotion characterized by intense love. For others it is in the mood of friendship, or parental love, or spousal love, or service. All of these eternal relationships exist with the Supreme Lord and constitute the ultimate possibilities available to consciousness.
The fourth universal principle is that the path to achievement of one's eternal constitutional engagement involves purification of consciousness through sincere spiritual practice. All beings are currently in a state of forgetfulness regarding their true identity and eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. This forgetfulness has resulted from association with material energy and has created a false identification with the material body and material circumstances. Spiritual practice serves the purpose of gradually clearing this forgetfulness and awakening consciousness to its eternal truth. Through sincere engagement in spiritual practice, any being can systematically elevate consciousness toward its ultimate destination.
The Fifth Canto teaches that these universal principles are not inventions of any particular teacher or tradition but represent the eternal foundation of existence itself, established by the Supreme Lord at the time of creation and accessible to all beings who sincerely seek truth. These principles have been known to the greatest sages since ancient times and have been transmitted through all genuine spiritual traditions because they represent the deepest truths of existence. Those who understand and apply these universal principles in their lives will find themselves naturally progressing toward spiritual realization and toward the ultimate fulfillment that comes from eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord.
This chapter teaches that spiritual truth is not relative or dependent on opinion or belief, but represents eternal principles that transcend all temporary circumstances and circumstances. By understanding and living according to these universal principles, any being can achieve the supreme goal. The principles themselves provide a map and a pathway available to all sincere seekers, regardless of their external circumstances, previous experiences, or apparent advantages or disadvantages. The Supreme Lord has graciously established these principles in the very structure of existence so that all beings can, if they choose, progressively elevate their consciousness and achieve liberation and eternal happiness through relationship with the Divine.