No Evolution

Sri Ramana Maharshi

Q. Does Bhagavan believe in evolution?

M. Evolution must be from one state to another. When no differences are admitted, how can evolution arise?

Why does Krishna say, "After several births the seeker gains knowledge and thus knows Me." There must be evolution from stage to stage.

How does Bhagavad Gita begin? "Neither I was not nor you nor these chiefs etc." "Neither it is born, nor does it die, etc." So there is no birth, no death, no present as you look at it. Reality was, is, and will be. It is changeless. Later Arjuna asked Sri Krishna how he could have lived before Aditya. Then Krishna, seeing Arjuna was confounding Him with the gross body, spoke to him accordingly. The instruction is for the one who sees diversity. In reality there is no bondage nor mukti for himself or for others from the jnani's standpoint.

Are all in liberation?

Where is all? There is no liberation either. It could be only if there was bondage. There was really no bondage and so, it follows, there is no liberation.