Thought 54: There is Sakti (energy) in all objects and beings of this universe

Hindu Saastras have recognized that there are only two things in this world, which are matter and energy (Sakti) - and they are related. This is precisely what the modern science also says. In fact, Einstein’s equation (e = mc²) defines mathematically this relationship between matter and energy. But Vedaanta goes a step further as explained below.

Vedaanta says that you are not your body-mind complex; rather, you are the Aatma pervading the body-mind complex. Aatma is Brahman (Awareness). Maayaa is the Sakti of Brahman. Brahman and his Sakti cannot be separated; Sakti is always integral to the entity to which it belongs. Therefore, wherever Brahman is present, his Sakti is also present. Brahman is present in every object and in every being of this universe. Thus, the Sakti that is present in very object and beings of this universe - is the Sakti of Brahman only. This is the Sakti, which is referred to in the paragraph above. This Sakti is also known as the Paraa Sakti or the Muula Sakti (root Sakti) – because this is the Sakti from which all other Saktis associated with different objects and beings of this universe are derived. This Muula Sakti is also known as the supreme goddess (Mother supreme)

In Vedaanta, the matter is called Bhuuta - while the energy is called Sakti. Vedaanta also says that every physical entity is a Bhuuta (which is made of the Pancha Mahaabhuutas, which are the space, the fire, the air, the water, and the earth and which emerged from the supreme goddess). The Bhuuta is inert and inanimate matter (Jada). Our physical body, for instance, is a Bhuuta – and it is inert and inanimate. Every Bhuuta in existence has some energy (Sakti) in it (which is derived from the Muula Sakti explained above). Even a rock has some Sakti (energy) in it, which is the potential energy - and which is waiting to be released. The Bhuuta in the living beings is also called an “Upaadhi” in Sanskrit.

All living beings are energy sources. The Sakti (energy) associated with the living beings, is a composite of one or more of the three component Saktis – Kriya Sakti (Sakti, which enables you to perform Karma), Iccha Sakti (Sakti, which enables you to “will”) and Jnaanan Sakti (Sakti, which enables you to gain knowledge). Kriya Sakti is the Praana Sakti – which is the Sakti associated with the Praanas. The Iccha Sakti and the Jnaana Sakti are the Saktis associated with the mind. Praanas and mind are the only two subtle movements in the body-mind complex.

Since the trees have practically no minds in them, we may consider that they do not have any Iccha Sakti and Jnaana Sakti in them; they only have Praana Sakti. The animals have very rudimentary minds and possess only Vaasana Jnaanam. Therefore, we may consider the Iccha Sakti in animals as practically non-existent. The Kriya Sakti is the predominant Sakti in the animals. Animals also possess a rudimentary form of Jnaana Sakti (which is limited to the Vaasana Jnaanam only). The human beings possess all the three Saktis – Kriya Sakti, Iccha Sakti and the Jnaana Sakti. The Jnaana Sakti in the human beings is superior compared to that of the animals - in the sense that it spans the entire spectrum of worldly knowledge, which includes both Vaasana Jnaanam and Vivechana Jnaanam. In the living beings, these three Saktis are underscored by another great Sakti, called Chit Sakti.

“Chit” means “Chaitanya” – which is pure consciousness. Aatma is the pure consciousness and the Chit Sakti is the Sakti associated with the pure consciousness. When the “Chit Sakti” shines (in the Buddhi), the inanimate body-mind complex becomes vivified – and at the same time, it also becomes self-conscious. Thus, Chit Sakti makes us animate and sentient. Because of the Chit Sakti, a person knows that he exists; no one need prove to him that he exists.

All living beings have Chit in them. In the human beings, Chit not only vivifies their Bhuutas - but it also makes them self-conscious. In the animals, this Chit only vivifies them but it does not make them self-conscious. The animals do not know that they exist – but the human beings do know that they exist.

All the three Saktis (Kriya Sakti, Iccha Sakti and Jnaana Sakti), however, are inanimate (Jada). While they can flow in the Bhuutas of living beings all by themselves, they cannot do what they are supposed to do in the Bhuuta - all by themselves. For instance, the Bhuuta is what moves and Sakti is what makes it move. But the Kriyaa Sakti, which is supposed to move the Bhuuta, cannot by itself move the Bhuuta – because it is inanimate (Jada). What moves a Bhuuta is the Kriya Sakti in it no doubt - but only when it is underscored or supported from behind by the Chit Sakti. For instance, I am able to move because of my Praana Sakti (Kriya Sakti) - only when it is underscored by the Chit energy in me (that is, when I am alive).