Brahman is not God. - Brahman, as understood by the scriptures of Hinduism, as well as by the acharyas of the Vedanta school, is a very specific conception of the Absolute. This unique conception has not been replicated by any other religion but Hinduism. Thus to even call this conception of Brahman God is imprecise. This is the case because Brahman does not refer to the anthropomorphic (man-like) concept of God of the Abrahamic (Western) religions (Judaism, Christianity & Islam). When we speak of Brahman, we are referring neither to the old man in the sky concept. Nor to the idea of the Absolute as even capable of being vengeful, fearful or engaging in choosing a favorite people from among His creatures - of having human attributes or limitations of any kind. For that matter, Brahman is not a He at all, but rather Transcends all empirically discernable categories, limitations and dualities. What is Brahman?- In the Taittariya Upanishad II.1, Brahman is described in the following manner: satyam jnanam anantam brahma; Brahman is of the nature of Truth, Knowledge and Infinity. Infinite positive qualities and states have their existence secured solely by virtue of Brahmans very Nature & Reality. Brahman is a necessary Reality, Eternal (i.e., beyond the purview of temporality), fully independent, non-contingent, and the Source and ground of all things. Brahman is both immanently present in the realm of materiality, inter-penetrating the whole of Reality as the sustaining Essence that gives it structure, meaning and existential Being, yet Brahman is simultaneously the transcendent Origin of all things. The Nature of Brahman- As the primary causal substance of material reality (jagatkarana), Brahman does not arbitrarily will the coming into being of the non-Brahman metaphysical principles of matter and jivas (individuated consciousness). Rather, they are manifest into being as a natural result of the overflowing of Brahmans grandeur, beauty, bliss and love. Brahman cannot but create abundance in a similar manner to how Brahman cannot but Exist. Both existence and overflowing abundance are the necessary properties of Brahman. Brahman is the Source- One can say that Brahman Itself constitutes the essential building material of all reality, being the antecedent primeval ontological substance from whence all things proceed. There is no ex nihilo creation in Hinduism. Brahman does not create from nothing, but from the Reality of Its Own Being. Thus Brahman is, in Aristotelian terms, both the Material Cause as well as the Efficient Cause of creation. The Final Goal & the Final Cause- As the source of Dharma, the metaphysical ordering principles inherent in the design of the cosmos, Brahman can be viewed as the Formal Cause. And as the final goal of all reality, Brahman is also the Final Cause. Being the ontological source of all reality, Brahman is the only substantial Real that Truly exists, all other metaphysical categories being either, 1) contingent transformations of Brahman, having their very being subsisting in attributive dependence upon Brahman, or 2) illusory in nature. These views about the nature of Brahman are in general keeping with the theological teachings of both the Advaita and the Vishishta-Advaita schools of Hinduism. Brahman is the Ultimate Reality. All reality has its source in Brahman. All reality has its grounding sustenance in Brahman. It is in Brahman that all reality has its ultimate repose. Hinduism, specifically, is consciously and exclusively aiming toward this Reality termed Brahman. AUM
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 01:36:39 +0000
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