Page 63 - Metaphysical questions of life
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Canto 3, chapter 11 of the Srimad Bhagavatam, en tled Calcula on of
Time, From the Atom, the following explana ons are given:
“The material manifesta on’s ul mate par cle, which is indivisible and
not formed into a body, is called the atom. It exists always as an invisi-
ble iden ty, even a er the dissolu on of all forms. The material body is
but a combina on of such atoms, but it is misunderstood by the com-
mon man.” (SB 3.11.1)
“The atomic descrip on of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is almost the same
as the modern science of atomism, and this is further described in the
Paramāṇu-vāda of Kaṇāda. In modern science also, the atom is accept-
ed as the ul mate indivisible par cle of which the universe is com-
posed. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the full text of all descrip ons of
knowledge, including the theory of atomism. The atom is the minute
subtle form of eternal me.” (SB 3.11.1 – purport)
“Atoms are the ul mate state of the manifest universe. When they stay
in their own forms without forming different bodies, they are called the
unlimited oneness. There are certainly different bodies in physical
forms, but the atoms themselves form the complete manifesta on.” (SB
3.11.2)
“One can es mate me by measuring the movement of the atomic
combina on of bodies. Time is the potency of the almighty Personality
of Godhead, Hari, who controls all physical movement although He is
not visible in the physical world.”
(SB 3.2.3)
“Atomic me is measured according to its covering a par cular atomic
space. That me which covers the unmanifest aggregate of atoms is
called the great me.” (SB.3.2.4)
“Time and space are two correla ve terms. Time is measured in terms
of its covering a certain space of atoms. Standard me is calculated in
terms of the movement of the sun. The me covered by the sun in pass-
ing over an atom is calculated as atomic me. The greatest me of all
covers the en re existence of the nondual manifesta on. All the planets
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