What is the single defining characteristic of this material existence?

Question

There is a definite answer to this question. By the way, the so called answer to the Stephen Hawking question left the matter totally unresolved, in my view.

Answer 1

The single defining characteristic of this material existence is that it is unremittingly miserable. I will quote Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami from the Srimad Bhagavatam "The material existence of the living being is a diseased condition of actual life. Actual life is spiritual existence, or brahma bhuta existence, where life is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge. Material existence is temporary, illusory and full of misery; there is no happiness at all. There is just the futile attempt to get rid of the miseries, and the temporary cessation of misery is falsely called happiness."

The material body and mind of the living entity is composed of the external energy of the Lord. The actual conscious self is completely different from the gross body and subtle mind. There is no possibility of the transcendental spiritual living being becoming fully satisfied by any amount of interaction between the senses and the various objects of the senses.

Complete happiness can only be experienced by the pure living entity in the liberated condition, which is the self realized platform of pure Krishna consciousness. (See Bhagavad Gita 18.54)
brahma bhuta prasannatma na socati na kanksati
"One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed ot every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto me."

Regarding the question of Stephen Hawking:
Are we so arrogant in our conditioned, mundane existences that we really think that it is up to us? Our problem is that we deny the existence of the Supreme and act in all kinds of abominable and destructive ways. Even so, the Supreme Lord is the ultimate controller of everything and every one. The survival of the human race is ultimately up to Him. In terms of catastrophic events, we all seem to ascribe them to external actions and events, but fail to see how we are dictated to by our own karma, individual and collective.
Again, the Bhagavad Gita gives a clear indication of how the living entity is controlled by external forces which are ultimately controlled by the Supreme Lord
na kartrtvam na karmani
lokasya srjati prabhu
na karma phala samyogam
svabhavas tu pravartate

"The embodied spirit, master of the city of his body, does not create activities, nor does he induce people to act, nor does he create the fruits of action. All this is enacted by the modes of material nature."( Bhagavad Gita 5.14)

I have to conclude by saying that no amount of mental speculation by even the most intelligent person in mundane consciousness will ultimately arrive at the absolute truth. The absolute truth can only be understood by the mercy of the absolute.

Answer 2

That this life, this existence, this experience, is not all there is. You are a finite being capable of infinite thought, a being of infinite thought capable of finite achievement, a being of finite achievement capable of infinite legacy.

Dr. Phil would probably say, "Get over yourself." But this definition sounds to me more like, "Get past yourself". Until we are willing to reach out to others and DO IT (remember the parable of the Good Samaritan), we're going to be defined by material existence even when we die rather than transcend it.

Thanks for the question. Have a great weekend!

Answer 3

Stephen Hawking is a fraud.

Answer 4

stephen hawking is such a genious.. i dont understand one single word that comes out of his mouth

Answer 5

I think, therefore I am. Sentience is the important factor. Without it, man would be as unaware of his existience as a cow.

Answer 6

Greed!

Answer 7

To find a reason to smile

Answer 8

vibrational energy

Answer 9

consciousness

Answer 10

procreation