Question
Namaste. I have been attracted to teaching of Paramhansa Yogananda. Recently, I have also been looking into the teachings of Meher Baba. But one thing that took me aback was his teaching that before the Creation, God was in an unconscious state and did not know He was God! And then there arose a "whim" for God to seek self-knowledge. How could an Omniscient God not know he was God? Did Paramhansa Yogananda ever teach that at some point "in the beginning" God did not know He was God?
—KCD, India
Answer
Dear KCD, I want to assure you that Paramhansa Yogananda taught that God, the Infinite Power, is conscious bliss itself: from ancient times and specifically by the renown Adi Shankycharya, it has been taught that God is Satchidanandam: EVER-EXISTING; EVER-CONSCIOUS; EVER-NEW BLISS. God cannot be UNconscious; indeed the entire creation is a manifestation of consciousness. There is no such thing as UNconsciousness, at least not from the metaphysical point of view.
The inquiry of whether God knows He is God is a logical paradox, for God is One and Eternal: As Pure Consciousness God is not an object but a state of Being that underlies all things and no-things. But as Consciousness Itself, God IS self-aware though even the statement of this borders on the absurd. In any case, it is not a question the ego mind can answer. It can only be known intuitively. As the Bible says: “I AM that I AM!”
Many ask “What came before God?” God alone exists: nothing else. (If you’ll pardon my sense of humor, this does not mean God is lonely!!!!!) Or as I have heard stated somewhere: “There is no god but God.”
Be of good cheer!
Blessings to you,
Nayaswami Hriman
