Head Hunter教你寫CV 推銷自己
晴報
2013年11月15日
博禹集團顧問郭智峰
Manpower Group大中華區董事總經理徐玉珊
【晴報專訊】求職除了講學歷，懂得推銷自己更重要！早前有獵頭公司顧問在網上請纓教人寫履歷，不少人慕名討教，他指CV能討HR歡心，搵工事半功倍。另有顧問指，建築、IT及服務業都是今年大熱行業。
較早前有招聘網站調查發現，今年大學畢業生起薪點約一萬二千元，較去年升5.4％，與通脹率相若。中原人力資源顧問董事總經理周綺萍指，建築工程、資訊科技及金融業今年最吃香，特別是智能手機Apps編寫員，起薪有一萬二千元以上，較去年增一成。
http://ramsss.com/hk/jobs
Manpower Group大中華區董事總經理徐玉珊亦指，零售及酒店服務就業市場暢旺，起薪介乎一萬至一萬二千元。以往較搶手的銀行Management Trainee（MT）空缺則減少，前綫服務及理財顧問等職位則增加。「以前一間銀行可能請三十個MT，今年減至十個，因為這類職位的投資成本較大。」
不懂表現自己 錯失機會
早前網上有自稱Head Hunter（獵頭公司）顧問請纓教年輕人寫履歷，吸引不少畢業生討教。這位Hunter是博禹集團顧問郭智峰，平日主要為客戶物色年薪四十萬至二百萬的銀行專才。
他指不少畢業生是好材料，但不懂在CV表現自己，錯失面試機會。「帖文Post幾個鐘，已有近二十個查詢，我發現好多人輕視『工作描述』一欄，沒把握機會將相關工作經驗精準地向HR說明。」
早前一名擁有碩士學歷、逾六年銀行中小企貸款服務經驗的女孩，找他幫忙修改CV，因她多次去信銀行申請相關職位也石沉海。郭說：「她想應徵中小企貸款資深顧問，但CV僅寫上曾任銀行貸款顧問，又無說明做個人或企業貸款，她應多花筆墨形容過往客戶規模及營業額等。」結果經他指點，新CV寄出數天便有面試機會。
撰寫CV六大竅門
1 隱惡揚善 推銷自己
郭智峰指求職者需因應職位要求，將相關工作經驗放大。「舉例找教職，便詳列教學經驗，如學生級別，在公開試取得多少個星等。」如英文欠佳，他建議以點列式寫CV，減少用段落表達。
2 不可忽略實習經驗
徐玉珊說初出茅廬的大學生，在「工作經驗」一欄應多寫暑期工及實習經驗。「例如實習性質與應徵職位的關聯性，實習期完成的project寫得詳細，可凸顯具備相關工作經驗。」
3錯字、資料不齊是「死罪」
人力資源顧問林敬新形容，將準僱主公司名弄錯屬「死罪」，串錯字、英文文法出錯是大忌，資料不齊也顯得粗心。「有些CV沒通訊地址，只留電郵或電話。HR只用10多秒看CV，如資料詳細會加分。」
4 切忌花巧 兩頁內完成
有應徵者以底色或圖片做CV背景，郭智峰說：「亦有人以粗體、斜體標註職位、公司名；甚至用顏色字或圖片托底，是畫蛇添足。」他建議CV篇幅應盡量在兩頁內完成。
5 諮詢人先問准同意
多數畢業生都會寫上前僱主或教授當諮詢人，徐玉珊提醒學生應先取得當事人同意。「否則HR打去問，對方蒙查查，雙方都尷尬。」
6 不要抄襲字句
網上CV樣本眾多，但切忌抄襲漂亮的句子。郭智峰指HR看重文字的通順及正確。「直接及簡單的表達已夠，多用成語或多餘句子，只會弄巧成拙。」
資料來源：綜合被訪者意見
記者：翟秀娟
Friday, November 15, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
阿裏雙11成交額破300億 文胸內褲奶粉最為暢銷
阿裏雙11成交額破300億 文胸內褲最為暢銷
2013年11月12日 京華時報
一年一度的“雙11”再現血拼。昨天（11日），天貓商城的雙11購物狂歡節零點準時開場，不到六小時，成交額就突破百億元“大關”，截至昨天21點19分已突破300億元，遠遠超過了去年的191億。而其他電商也在搶搭順風車，銷量流量雙雙飆升。
參與商家規模翻倍
昨天，中外上百家媒體齊聚杭州西溪淘寶城，見證和報道天貓商城今年的雙11購物狂歡節，這很可能是阿裏巴巴集團上市前的最後一個雙11，所以格外受到重視。
記者了解到，今年天貓雙11購物狂歡節參與商家規模增至2萬家，是去年的兩倍，涵蓋3萬多個品牌。
今年天貓主會場1111.tmall.com全場五折封頂包郵的特色得到保留，分會場再次刷新紀錄達到了30余個，其中包括首次推出的能夠賺錢的理財分會場、海外分會場以及淘寶旅行專場。本次天貓雙11購物狂歡節當天，天貓加淘寶在線商品數超過14億，相當于1000個義烏小商品城。
55秒交易額破億
昨晚，零點剛過，成交量就迅速暴漲，開場後55秒，支付寶交易額就突破1億，到了零點6分7秒，成交額直接衝上10億元。到13點04分，成交額突破191億元，僅用13小時就完成去年全天交易額。隨後，17點31分超過250億元，而在21點19分突破了之前馬雲放出的300億目標。
Underwear
在商家方面，開場不到3分鐘，GXG、傑克瓊斯、太平鳥的成交額就破千萬。截至昨天13點04分，小米官方旗艦店、國華人壽、海爾、優衣庫、生命人壽官方旗艦店、傑克瓊斯、羅萊、易方達基金等8家店鋪挺進“億元俱樂部”。
基金理財專場火爆
天貓雙11不僅是個花錢的日子，還是個賺錢的好機會。阿裏集團的數據顯示，截至昨天12點，理財產品支付寶總成交金額5.55億元。
開賣僅10分鐘，淘寶理財雙11產品，國華人壽華瑞2號，預期年化收益7%，十分鐘成交金額一億元。昨天上午9點30分，在聚劃算分會場的生命人壽限量銷售1億元的保險理財寶貝全部售罄。而淘寶基金從11日零點開賣，僅花了1分鐘，成交金額就突破1000萬元，在1點26分時突破5000萬元。截至11月11日上午10點28分易方達基金單品基金成交金額破億元。
京東易迅等銷量大增
除了天貓之外，京東商城、易迅等競爭對手也在借雙11搞促銷。
昨天，記者從京東了解到，從11月11日零點到中午12點，京東的訂單量已經達到平日全天的三倍，從11月11日零點到早8點，訂單量達到平日全天的水平，預計11月11日當天將會突破500萬單；比之前預計的300萬單大幅提升。不過，京東拒絕透露雙11的具體成交額。當當網方面也拒絕透露雙11的具體數字，但表示銷量是平時的5倍。
騰訊旗下的易迅網透露，截至11日當天16點，易迅網下單筆數近35萬，下單金額超過2.84億元，預計雙11的訂單數目將達到45萬-50萬單，單日銷售金額將達到3.6億-4億元的歷史最高值。
酒仙網昨天提供的銷售數據顯示，淩晨1點，其交易額就突破了4000萬元，交易額超4萬筆。而去年酒仙網雙11全天的戰績是6000萬元。
□分析
電商整體流量增長527%
據了解，從11月1日開始，國美電器、易迅網等眾多電商便先于天貓商城展開了降價促銷活動，從幫5買的《報告》數據可以看出，雖然眾商家的促銷活動層出不窮，但是流量增長產生巨大影響的促銷活動依然是雙11，從8日開始電商總體流量開始持續增長，11日流量激增。
從11月8日9時開始，雙11效應開始凸顯，電商流量出現穩定增長的趨勢，10日13時電商流量開始激增，11日零時出現了流量第一波高峰，10時出現了第二波流量高峰。11日4時達到當天的流量低谷，和11月1日相比，11日的流量低谷出現時間向後推遲了3個小時，電商的整體流量增長了527%。
先漲價再降價依然存在
幫5買發布《2013年雙十一電商價格不完全報告》還顯示，先漲後降的情況在本次雙11再次出現。雖然各家電商的促銷手段不同，但是只從商品價格這一硬性指標來看，臨陣調價的情況還是存在的。天貓商城的一款蘋果5S手機就存在這種情況。進入11月之後，這款iPhone5S手機價格便起伏不定，11月10日當天手機價格臨時調整到了歷史最高價5537元，然後一路下跌，最終在11日當天推出了歷史最低價4999元。從歷史最高價到歷史最低價不到24小時的時間。
此外，根據該《報告》提供的價格變化數據顯示，雙11期間，在大部分商品都在降價的時候，依然有部分商品價格逆市上漲。其中筆記本電腦類商品漲價數量最多，手機類商品降價數量最多。
□花絮
賣家燒香拜馬雲求大賣
雙11已經是很多賣家狂歡的節日，今年有些賣家老板為了這天能開門紅，商品大賣，居然“別出心裁”帶著員工在公司裏對著馬雲的照片叩拜。
記者看到，一個天貓的賣家在雙11晚上開場前，帶著全體員工加班，他們舉行了一個特別的儀式，將馬雲的照片擺放在桌子上，邊上放滿水果和飲料，所有員工對著馬雲照片雙手合十叩拜，祈求商品能借著雙11大賣。
還有部分賣家直接把銷售目標和馬雲的照片都貼在墻上，然後對著馬雲照片上香。沒有準備好香的賣家，看到別的賣家這樣做，就找來很多易拉罐飲料堆出三炷香的樣子。
有的賣家在公司還打著條幅調侃說：“當年信春哥，今日拜馬雲。不吃飯，不睡覺，打足精神賺鈔票。”
另外，也有小米的員工在公司惡搞，對著小米的吉祥物米兔的玩偶敬香祈禱。
□“雙11”之最
文胸內褲最暢銷
阿裏提供的數據顯示，“雙11”第一個小時賣出最多的是文胸和內褲，成交的160萬個文胸疊起來有3個珠穆朗瑪峰那麼高，銷售的200萬條內褲連接起來，長達3000公裏。截至11日上午10:30，奶粉銷售破50萬罐成交過億，可以供全國2個月大的新生兒食用一個星期。
亞馬遜降價商品最多
昨天，獨立購物搜索門戶網站幫5買 http://q.gs/52OQw 發布《2013年雙十一電商價格不完全報告》顯示，在監測的商品數量范圍內，亞馬遜降價商品數量佔降價商品總數最高，達到了19.59%，天貓商城、京東商城緊隨其後分別為18.68%和17.49%，一號店最少，僅佔6.03%。
在天貓、京東商城、亞馬遜、當當網、1號店、國美電器、易迅網、蘇寧易購八家電商共有的降價商品中，亞馬遜的最低價格產品（同款商品中）數量最多，佔最低價格商品總數的25%，天貓商城佔比23%位居次席，當當網以22%的佔比位居第三。
小米旗艦店最先過億
小米公司聯合創始人副總裁黎萬強透露，小米天貓旗艦店在11月11日淩晨零點30分正式開場，在3分鐘的時間內小米手機3和紅米手機已經全部下完訂單，總支付金額超過1億780萬，成為此次天貓雙11首家過億的商家。據最新更新的數據顯示，截止到1點01分，總支付金額已經突破3億元。
余額寶支付最順暢
支付寶提供的數據顯示，在“11.11”的眾多支付方式中，余額寶支付最為順暢，平均支付時間為5秒，無需跳轉銀行支付頁面即可直接付款，而網銀支付時間則平均為1分鐘左右。余額寶支付成功率高達99.9%以上，在所有支付方式中成功率最高。截至11月11日11時，雙11網購狂歡節用余額寶支付共1003萬筆，支付金額34.43億元。
2013年11月12日 京華時報
一年一度的“雙11”再現血拼。昨天（11日），天貓商城的雙11購物狂歡節零點準時開場，不到六小時，成交額就突破百億元“大關”，截至昨天21點19分已突破300億元，遠遠超過了去年的191億。而其他電商也在搶搭順風車，銷量流量雙雙飆升。
參與商家規模翻倍
昨天，中外上百家媒體齊聚杭州西溪淘寶城，見證和報道天貓商城今年的雙11購物狂歡節，這很可能是阿裏巴巴集團上市前的最後一個雙11，所以格外受到重視。
記者了解到，今年天貓雙11購物狂歡節參與商家規模增至2萬家，是去年的兩倍，涵蓋3萬多個品牌。
今年天貓主會場1111.tmall.com全場五折封頂包郵的特色得到保留，分會場再次刷新紀錄達到了30余個，其中包括首次推出的能夠賺錢的理財分會場、海外分會場以及淘寶旅行專場。本次天貓雙11購物狂歡節當天，天貓加淘寶在線商品數超過14億，相當于1000個義烏小商品城。
55秒交易額破億
昨晚，零點剛過，成交量就迅速暴漲，開場後55秒，支付寶交易額就突破1億，到了零點6分7秒，成交額直接衝上10億元。到13點04分，成交額突破191億元，僅用13小時就完成去年全天交易額。隨後，17點31分超過250億元，而在21點19分突破了之前馬雲放出的300億目標。
Underwear
在商家方面，開場不到3分鐘，GXG、傑克瓊斯、太平鳥的成交額就破千萬。截至昨天13點04分，小米官方旗艦店、國華人壽、海爾、優衣庫、生命人壽官方旗艦店、傑克瓊斯、羅萊、易方達基金等8家店鋪挺進“億元俱樂部”。
基金理財專場火爆
天貓雙11不僅是個花錢的日子，還是個賺錢的好機會。阿裏集團的數據顯示，截至昨天12點，理財產品支付寶總成交金額5.55億元。
開賣僅10分鐘，淘寶理財雙11產品，國華人壽華瑞2號，預期年化收益7%，十分鐘成交金額一億元。昨天上午9點30分，在聚劃算分會場的生命人壽限量銷售1億元的保險理財寶貝全部售罄。而淘寶基金從11日零點開賣，僅花了1分鐘，成交金額就突破1000萬元，在1點26分時突破5000萬元。截至11月11日上午10點28分易方達基金單品基金成交金額破億元。
京東易迅等銷量大增
除了天貓之外，京東商城、易迅等競爭對手也在借雙11搞促銷。
昨天，記者從京東了解到，從11月11日零點到中午12點，京東的訂單量已經達到平日全天的三倍，從11月11日零點到早8點，訂單量達到平日全天的水平，預計11月11日當天將會突破500萬單；比之前預計的300萬單大幅提升。不過，京東拒絕透露雙11的具體成交額。當當網方面也拒絕透露雙11的具體數字，但表示銷量是平時的5倍。
騰訊旗下的易迅網透露，截至11日當天16點，易迅網下單筆數近35萬，下單金額超過2.84億元，預計雙11的訂單數目將達到45萬-50萬單，單日銷售金額將達到3.6億-4億元的歷史最高值。
酒仙網昨天提供的銷售數據顯示，淩晨1點，其交易額就突破了4000萬元，交易額超4萬筆。而去年酒仙網雙11全天的戰績是6000萬元。
□分析
電商整體流量增長527%
據了解，從11月1日開始，國美電器、易迅網等眾多電商便先于天貓商城展開了降價促銷活動，從幫5買的《報告》數據可以看出，雖然眾商家的促銷活動層出不窮，但是流量增長產生巨大影響的促銷活動依然是雙11，從8日開始電商總體流量開始持續增長，11日流量激增。
從11月8日9時開始，雙11效應開始凸顯，電商流量出現穩定增長的趨勢，10日13時電商流量開始激增，11日零時出現了流量第一波高峰，10時出現了第二波流量高峰。11日4時達到當天的流量低谷，和11月1日相比，11日的流量低谷出現時間向後推遲了3個小時，電商的整體流量增長了527%。
先漲價再降價依然存在
幫5買發布《2013年雙十一電商價格不完全報告》還顯示，先漲後降的情況在本次雙11再次出現。雖然各家電商的促銷手段不同，但是只從商品價格這一硬性指標來看，臨陣調價的情況還是存在的。天貓商城的一款蘋果5S手機就存在這種情況。進入11月之後，這款iPhone5S手機價格便起伏不定，11月10日當天手機價格臨時調整到了歷史最高價5537元，然後一路下跌，最終在11日當天推出了歷史最低價4999元。從歷史最高價到歷史最低價不到24小時的時間。
此外，根據該《報告》提供的價格變化數據顯示，雙11期間，在大部分商品都在降價的時候，依然有部分商品價格逆市上漲。其中筆記本電腦類商品漲價數量最多，手機類商品降價數量最多。
□花絮
賣家燒香拜馬雲求大賣
雙11已經是很多賣家狂歡的節日，今年有些賣家老板為了這天能開門紅，商品大賣，居然“別出心裁”帶著員工在公司裏對著馬雲的照片叩拜。
記者看到，一個天貓的賣家在雙11晚上開場前，帶著全體員工加班，他們舉行了一個特別的儀式，將馬雲的照片擺放在桌子上，邊上放滿水果和飲料，所有員工對著馬雲照片雙手合十叩拜，祈求商品能借著雙11大賣。
還有部分賣家直接把銷售目標和馬雲的照片都貼在墻上，然後對著馬雲照片上香。沒有準備好香的賣家，看到別的賣家這樣做，就找來很多易拉罐飲料堆出三炷香的樣子。
有的賣家在公司還打著條幅調侃說：“當年信春哥，今日拜馬雲。不吃飯，不睡覺，打足精神賺鈔票。”
另外，也有小米的員工在公司惡搞，對著小米的吉祥物米兔的玩偶敬香祈禱。
□“雙11”之最
文胸內褲最暢銷
阿裏提供的數據顯示，“雙11”第一個小時賣出最多的是文胸和內褲，成交的160萬個文胸疊起來有3個珠穆朗瑪峰那麼高，銷售的200萬條內褲連接起來，長達3000公裏。截至11日上午10:30，奶粉銷售破50萬罐成交過億，可以供全國2個月大的新生兒食用一個星期。
亞馬遜降價商品最多
昨天，獨立購物搜索門戶網站幫5買 http://q.gs/52OQw 發布《2013年雙十一電商價格不完全報告》顯示，在監測的商品數量范圍內，亞馬遜降價商品數量佔降價商品總數最高，達到了19.59%，天貓商城、京東商城緊隨其後分別為18.68%和17.49%，一號店最少，僅佔6.03%。
在天貓、京東商城、亞馬遜、當當網、1號店、國美電器、易迅網、蘇寧易購八家電商共有的降價商品中，亞馬遜的最低價格產品（同款商品中）數量最多，佔最低價格商品總數的25%，天貓商城佔比23%位居次席，當當網以22%的佔比位居第三。
小米旗艦店最先過億
小米公司聯合創始人副總裁黎萬強透露，小米天貓旗艦店在11月11日淩晨零點30分正式開場，在3分鐘的時間內小米手機3和紅米手機已經全部下完訂單，總支付金額超過1億780萬，成為此次天貓雙11首家過億的商家。據最新更新的數據顯示，截止到1點01分，總支付金額已經突破3億元。
余額寶支付最順暢
支付寶提供的數據顯示，在“11.11”的眾多支付方式中，余額寶支付最為順暢，平均支付時間為5秒，無需跳轉銀行支付頁面即可直接付款，而網銀支付時間則平均為1分鐘左右。余額寶支付成功率高達99.9%以上，在所有支付方式中成功率最高。截至11月11日11時，雙11網購狂歡節用余額寶支付共1003萬筆，支付金額34.43億元。
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Origin of the Jiva Soul - Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja
Origin of the Jiva Soul
by Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja
Since time immemorial, man has inquired about the origin of the soul. In the thinking of many neophyte devotees the soul falls down from eternal pastimes with Krishna due to mundane envy.
In this brief essay, Srila Sridhara Maharaja answers this most vital of all questions: "Who am I? Where have I come from?
Note: An audio mp3 file of Srila Sridhar Maharaja speaking on the Jiva issue available here.
http://q.gs/4uDO8
How does the soul first appear in this world? From what stage of spiritual existence does he fall into the material world?" This is a broad question, which requires some background information.
There are two classes of souls, jivas, who come into this world. One class comes from the spiritual Vaikuntha planets by the necessity of nitya-lila, the eternal pastimes of Krsna. Another comes by constitutional necessity.
The brahmajyoti, the nondifferentiated marginal plane, is the source of infinite jiva souls, atomic spiritual particles of nondifferentiated character. The rays of the Lord's transcendental body are known as the brahmajyoti, and a pencil of a ray of the brahmajyoti is the jiva. The jiva soul is an atom in that effulgence, and the brahmajyoti is a product of an infinite number of jiva atoms.
Generally, souls emanate from the brahmajyoti which is living and growing. Within the brahmajyoti, their equilibrium is somehow disturbed and movement begins. From nondifferentiation, differentiation begins. From a plain sheet of uniform consciousness, individual conscious units grow. And because the jiva is conscious it is endowed with free will. So, from the marginal position they choose either the side of exploitation or the side of dedication.
Krsna bhuli sei jiva anadi bahirmukha . Anadi means that which has no beginning. When we enter the land of exploitation, we come within the factor of time, space, and thought. And when we come to exploit, action and reaction begins in the negative land of loan. Although we strive to become masters, really we become losers.
Goloka and Vaikuntha servitors are also seen to be within the jurisdiction of the brahmanda, the material universe, but that is only a play, lila. They come from that higher plane only to take part in the Lord's pastimes and then return. The fallen souls come from the marginal position within the brahmajyoti and not from Vaikuntha.
The first position of a soul in the material world will be like that of Brahma the creator. Then his karma may take him to the body of a beast like a tiger where he is surrounded with a tigerish mentality, or to the body of a tree or creeper, where different impressions may surround him.
In this way, one is involved in action and reaction. The case is complex; to analyze the details of the history of a particular atom is unnecessary. We are concerned with the general thing: how the transformation of the material conception springs from pure consciousness.
Matter is not independent of spirit. In the brahmajyoti we are equipoised in the marginal potency as an infinite number of pinpoints of spiritual rays, electrons of consciousness. Consciousness means endowed with free will, for without free will no consciousness can be conceived. An atomic pinpoint of consciousness has very meager free will, and by misuse of their free will some jivas have taken their chance in the material world. They refused to submit to the supreme authority; they wanted to dominate. So, with this germinal idea of domination, the jiva enters into the world of exploitation. In the Bhagavad-gita (7.27) it is stated:
iccha-dvesa samutthena
dvandva-mohena bharata
sarva-bhutani sammoham
sarge yanti parantapa
"Two principles in a crude form awaken in the jiva: hatred and desire. Then, gradually the soul comes down to mingle with the mundane world."
At first, sympathy and apathy develop in a crude form, just as when a sprout springs up with two leaves. And gradually these two things help us to dive deep into this mundane world. Upon retiring from the world of exploitation, the soul may return to his former position in the brahmajyoti as spirit. But, if the soul has gathered the tendency of dedication through his previous devotional activities, he does not stop there; he pierces through the brahmajyoti and goes towards Vaikuntha.
Why has the soul come to the world of "exploitation" and not the world of dedication? That should be attributed to his innate nature, which is endowed with free will. It is a free choice. This is substantiated in the Bhagavad-gita (5. 14):
na kartrtvam na karmani
lokasya srjati prabhuh
na karma-phala-samyogam
svabhavas tu pravartate
"The soul is responsible for his entrance into the land of exploitation."
The responsibility is with the soul, otherwise, the Lord would be responsible for his distressed condition. But Krsna says that the soul's innate free will is responsible for his entanglement in the material world. The soul is conscious, and consciousness means endowed with freedom.
Because the soul is atomic, his free will is imperfect and vulnerable. The result of that free choice is that some are coming into the material world, and some are going to the spiritual world. So, the responsibility is with the individual soul.
Once, an Indian political leader, Syamasundara Cakravarti, asked our spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada, "Why has the Lord granted such freedom to the jiva ?"
Prabhupada told him, ""You are fighting for freedom. Don't you know the value of freedom? Devoid of freedom, the soul is only matter." Freedom offers us the alternative to do right or wrong.
Once, Gandhi told the British authorities, ""We want freedom."' They replied, "You are not fit to have self-government. When you are fit, we shall give it to you." But finally, he told them, "We want the freedom to do wrong." So, freedom does not guarantee only acting in the right way; freedom has its value independent of right and wrong.
Free will is only absolute with the Absolute Truth. Because we are finite our free will is infinitesimal. The possibility of committing a mistake is there. Our first choice was to dominate and so, gradually we have entered the world of domination.
As a result of this first action, everything else has developed. So, in different ranks the species have been divided from the demigods down to the trees and stones. And watery bodies, gaseous bodies, anything that we find here has evolved in that way. The activating principle in any form of embryological development is the soul, and from the soul, everything has evolved."
by Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja
Since time immemorial, man has inquired about the origin of the soul. In the thinking of many neophyte devotees the soul falls down from eternal pastimes with Krishna due to mundane envy.
In this brief essay, Srila Sridhara Maharaja answers this most vital of all questions: "Who am I? Where have I come from?
Note: An audio mp3 file of Srila Sridhar Maharaja speaking on the Jiva issue available here.
http://q.gs/4uDO8
How does the soul first appear in this world? From what stage of spiritual existence does he fall into the material world?" This is a broad question, which requires some background information.
There are two classes of souls, jivas, who come into this world. One class comes from the spiritual Vaikuntha planets by the necessity of nitya-lila, the eternal pastimes of Krsna. Another comes by constitutional necessity.
The brahmajyoti, the nondifferentiated marginal plane, is the source of infinite jiva souls, atomic spiritual particles of nondifferentiated character. The rays of the Lord's transcendental body are known as the brahmajyoti, and a pencil of a ray of the brahmajyoti is the jiva. The jiva soul is an atom in that effulgence, and the brahmajyoti is a product of an infinite number of jiva atoms.
Generally, souls emanate from the brahmajyoti which is living and growing. Within the brahmajyoti, their equilibrium is somehow disturbed and movement begins. From nondifferentiation, differentiation begins. From a plain sheet of uniform consciousness, individual conscious units grow. And because the jiva is conscious it is endowed with free will. So, from the marginal position they choose either the side of exploitation or the side of dedication.
Krsna bhuli sei jiva anadi bahirmukha . Anadi means that which has no beginning. When we enter the land of exploitation, we come within the factor of time, space, and thought. And when we come to exploit, action and reaction begins in the negative land of loan. Although we strive to become masters, really we become losers.
Goloka and Vaikuntha servitors are also seen to be within the jurisdiction of the brahmanda, the material universe, but that is only a play, lila. They come from that higher plane only to take part in the Lord's pastimes and then return. The fallen souls come from the marginal position within the brahmajyoti and not from Vaikuntha.
The first position of a soul in the material world will be like that of Brahma the creator. Then his karma may take him to the body of a beast like a tiger where he is surrounded with a tigerish mentality, or to the body of a tree or creeper, where different impressions may surround him.
In this way, one is involved in action and reaction. The case is complex; to analyze the details of the history of a particular atom is unnecessary. We are concerned with the general thing: how the transformation of the material conception springs from pure consciousness.
Matter is not independent of spirit. In the brahmajyoti we are equipoised in the marginal potency as an infinite number of pinpoints of spiritual rays, electrons of consciousness. Consciousness means endowed with free will, for without free will no consciousness can be conceived. An atomic pinpoint of consciousness has very meager free will, and by misuse of their free will some jivas have taken their chance in the material world. They refused to submit to the supreme authority; they wanted to dominate. So, with this germinal idea of domination, the jiva enters into the world of exploitation. In the Bhagavad-gita (7.27) it is stated:
iccha-dvesa samutthena
dvandva-mohena bharata
sarva-bhutani sammoham
sarge yanti parantapa
"Two principles in a crude form awaken in the jiva: hatred and desire. Then, gradually the soul comes down to mingle with the mundane world."
At first, sympathy and apathy develop in a crude form, just as when a sprout springs up with two leaves. And gradually these two things help us to dive deep into this mundane world. Upon retiring from the world of exploitation, the soul may return to his former position in the brahmajyoti as spirit. But, if the soul has gathered the tendency of dedication through his previous devotional activities, he does not stop there; he pierces through the brahmajyoti and goes towards Vaikuntha.
Why has the soul come to the world of "exploitation" and not the world of dedication? That should be attributed to his innate nature, which is endowed with free will. It is a free choice. This is substantiated in the Bhagavad-gita (5. 14):
na kartrtvam na karmani
lokasya srjati prabhuh
na karma-phala-samyogam
svabhavas tu pravartate
"The soul is responsible for his entrance into the land of exploitation."
The responsibility is with the soul, otherwise, the Lord would be responsible for his distressed condition. But Krsna says that the soul's innate free will is responsible for his entanglement in the material world. The soul is conscious, and consciousness means endowed with freedom.
Because the soul is atomic, his free will is imperfect and vulnerable. The result of that free choice is that some are coming into the material world, and some are going to the spiritual world. So, the responsibility is with the individual soul.
Once, an Indian political leader, Syamasundara Cakravarti, asked our spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada, "Why has the Lord granted such freedom to the jiva ?"
Prabhupada told him, ""You are fighting for freedom. Don't you know the value of freedom? Devoid of freedom, the soul is only matter." Freedom offers us the alternative to do right or wrong.
Once, Gandhi told the British authorities, ""We want freedom."' They replied, "You are not fit to have self-government. When you are fit, we shall give it to you." But finally, he told them, "We want the freedom to do wrong." So, freedom does not guarantee only acting in the right way; freedom has its value independent of right and wrong.
Free will is only absolute with the Absolute Truth. Because we are finite our free will is infinitesimal. The possibility of committing a mistake is there. Our first choice was to dominate and so, gradually we have entered the world of domination.
As a result of this first action, everything else has developed. So, in different ranks the species have been divided from the demigods down to the trees and stones. And watery bodies, gaseous bodies, anything that we find here has evolved in that way. The activating principle in any form of embryological development is the soul, and from the soul, everything has evolved."
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