The teaching of connecting links (Vaishnava Vedanta #06)

For the process of seeing to happen, for example, there must be an observer, the cooperation of the demigods who control vision (for the sense of vision to work) and some object to be observed. Without an observer, there is no activity of the senses. If there is no cooperation from the demigods, one can't see, and his vision is useless if there is nothing to be seen. In this way, if one is absent, the process of observation doesn't happen. The sunlight is useful because we have eyes; if we didn't have eyes, if we were not able to see, or if there were nothing to be seen, the sunlight would be useless. Just like in this example, there are many other sets of interdependent things in the material creation. This leads to the logical conclusion that someone created them in this way. Someone created the universe the way it is, with many interdependent factors. The fact everything depends on something else leads to the conclusion there is someone who is independent, who controls all the others, who are dependent. This example therefore is used to maintain the idea that there is an ultimate shelter or asraya for everything that exists. This shelter is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He gives shelter to everyone, but He doesn't depend on any other shelter. He is fully independent. Similarly, the Taittiriya Upanisad describes five sets of interconnected and interdependent things to gradually bring us to the understanding that everything works under the control of the Lord.  Get full access to Mysteries of the Vedas (Caitanya Chandra Dasa) at www.ccdas.net/subscribe