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THE NATURE OF REALITY
By Swami Nikhilananda, Sri Ramakrishna Centre, New York, USA.
As early as the Vedic times, the Rishis investigated the nature
of reality from two levels of experience, one of which may be
called the absolute, acosmic or transcendental level and the
other relative, cosmic or phenomenal level. At the phenomenal
level one perceives the universe of diversity and is aware of
one's own individual ego, whereas at the transcendental level,
the differences merge into an inexplicable non dual
consciousness. Both of these levels of experience are real
from their respective standpoints, though what is perceived at
one level may be negated at the other.
Reality experienced at the transcendental level is called
BRAHMAN. This term denotes the non-dual PURE
CONSCIOUSNESS which pervades the universe yet remains
outside it.(Just as the sun pervades all life on earth yet
remains outside it). Brahman is described as the first principle;
from it all things are derived, by it all are supported, and into
it all finally disappear. In Brahman alone the apparent
differences of the phenomenal world are unified. Brahman is
identical with the self of man, known as atman.
The word ATMAN signifies the consciousness in man which
experiences gross objects during the waking state, subtle
objects during the dream state, and the bliss arising from
absence of the duality of subject and object in dreamless sleep.
The Upanishads speak of the transcendental Brahman as
devoid of qualifying attributes or indicative marks, and of the
phenomenal Brahman as endowed with them. The attributeless
Brahman is called the supreme or unconditioned Brahman, and
the other the inferior or conditioned Brahman.
When the sense perceived world is regarded as real, Brahman
is spoken of as its omnipotent and omniscient Creator, Preserver
and Destroyer. But when the world is not perceived to exist, as for
instance in a deep meditation, then one experiences Brahman
as the unconditioned Absolute; the idea of a Creator, omnipotent
and omniscient, becomes irrelevant. The transcendental Brahman
appears as the cause of the universe in association with maya,
and becomes known as the conditioned Brahman or Brahman
with attributes, or by such other epithets as the Lord and the
personal God.
The unconditioned Brahman is free from the limiting adjuncts of
space, time and causation.
In describing Brahman as infinitely great and infinitely small, the
Upanishads only point out that it is absolutely spaceless. It is 'one
and infinite: infinite in the east, infinite in the south......The
SupremeBrahman is not to be fixed; it is unlimited, unborn, not
to be reasoned about, not to be conceived.'
The Rishis often describe the unconditioned Brahman
as existence-Knowledge-Bliss pure and absolute. Existence,
Knowledge and Bliss are not attributes of Reality, they are its
very stuff. Brahman is Knowledge or intelligence. The identity
of Brahman and Atman or the Self , has been expressed in
the well known Vedic dictum 'THAT THOU ART'. The very
conception of Atman(Self) in the Upanishads implies that it
is the knowing subject within us. It is the inner Consciousness
and the real agent of perception, the senses being
instruments. The Upanishads repeatedly say the
realisation of the unconditioned Brahman is the supreme
purpose of life, because it bestows immortality.
From the relative standpoint, however, the Vedas concede
the reality of the phenomenal universe with all its limitations,
and of finite living beings, who need an object of prayer and
worship. A phenomenal creature needs a liberator, a saviour
to whom he can pray, a personal God, benign and
compassionate, to whom he can stretch out his hand for
succour in the hour of stress and trial. By means of its
inscrutable power called MAYA, the unconditioned Brahman
becomes the conditioned Brahman endowed with attributes
(eg. has four hands holding mace and discus, conch shell
and lotus etc.)- the personal God, always ready to bestow
His grace upon all who pray to Him in distress.
It is the conditioned Brahman (called ISHWAR), by whom the
universe has been created, and by whom, after being created,
it is sustained and into whom in the end, it is absorbed. Creation,
preservation and destruction are the activities of the conditioned
Brahman or the personal God which can never affect His
transcendental nature; they are mere waves on the surface of
the ocean which cannot touch the serenity of its immeasurable
depths.
According to the non-dualistic Vedanta, this conditioning of
Brahman is not real, but only apparent. The conditioned
Brahman is a part of the phenomenal world and appears to
be real as long as the universe is regarded as real. In the
infinite ocean of pure consciousness, He is the biggest wave.
But the unconditioned Brahman and the conditioned Brahman
are not two realities. The wave is not essentially different from
the ocean; the sea is the same sea, whether it is peaceful or
agitated.
The conditioned Brahman is called ISHWAR (the Lord), because
He is the all powerful Lord of all, the ruler of the universe. He, the
Lord, is the bestower of blessings, the adorable God.
Vedanta philosophy often uses the word MAYA to describe
the creation. Maya, which is not essentially different from
Brahman, is the material cause, and Brahman, as pure
intelligence, is the efficient cause of the universe. After
projecting all material forms, Brahman enters into them as
life and consciousness and animates them. Thus Brahman,
which is transcendental, becomes immanent in the universe.
A unique manifestation of the conditioned Brahman is
the AVATAR or incarnation of God, to fulfil a cosmic
need whenever such a need arises.
THE NATURE OF REALITY WAS INVESTIGATED FROM
TWO LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE
LEVEL ONE LEVEL TWO
Absolute Relative
Acosmic Cosmic
Transcendental Phenomenal
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At level one: At level two:
Differences merge into an One perceives the universe of
inexplicable non-dual consciousness. diversity. Is aware of one's own
individual Ego.
In the Vedas, reality experienced at The conditioned
transcendental level is called Brahman. Brahman is called ISWAR (the
This term denotes a non-dual pure Lord). By means of its own
consciousness which pervades the inscrutable power called
universe and remains outside of it. MAYA, the unconditioned
Brahman becomes the
Conditioned Brahman endowed
with attributes. Creation,
preservation and destruction are
the activities of the conditioned
Brahman.
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The word Brahman denotes an The word Atman signifies the
entity whose greatness, powers consciousness in man which
of expansion no one can measure. experiences gross objects
The word ATMAN signifies the during the waking state, subtle
consciousness in man. objects during the dream state,
Brahman is identical with the Self and the bliss arising from the
of man, known as ATMAN (the absence of duality of subject
embodied soul). and object in dreamless sleep.
Level one------------------------------------------------------- Level
two---------------------------
The transcendental Brahman is Phenomenal Brahman is
devoid of qualifying attributes, endowed with attributes of
devoid of indicative marks, and indicative marks, is called
is called SUPREME or inferior or conditioned Brahman.
UNCONDITIONED BRAHMAN
or PURE BEING.
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Described as 'NOT THIS, NOT Described by such positive
THIS' (neti-neti) when the world statements as whose body is
is not perceived to exist, as for spirit, whose form is light,
instance in contemplation, then whose thoughts are true,
one experiences Brahman as the whose nature is like akasha
unconditioned Absolute. The idea (space), from whom all works,
of a creator, omnipotent and all desires, all odours proceed.
omnicient becomes irrelevant. When the sense-perceived
world is regarded as real,
Brahman is spoken of as its
omnipotent and omnicient
creator, and destroyer.
Level one----------------------------------------------------------Level
two.......---------------------
One loses one's individuality in One worships the conditioned
the experience of the unconditioned Brahman in the ordinary state
Brahman. of consciousness.
(It can be experienced) (It can be experienced)
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Unconditioned Brahman is indicated From the relative experience
by the Vedas as that 'from which all Brahman is described as the
speech, together with the mind, turns cause of the universe. The
away, unable to reach it. transcendental Brahman
It is unperceived (by any sense organ), appears as cause of the
unrelated to (anything), incomprehensible universe in association with
(to the mind), uninferable, unthinkable, MAYA, and becomes known
indescribable. as the conditioned Brahman,
or Brahman with attributes, or
such other epithets as the Lord
the personal God, saguna (with
form) personified.
The unconditioned Brahman is free
from the limiting adjuncts of space,
time and causation. Brahman is not
born, It does not die.
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Brahman is unknown and unknowable.
To be known, a thing must be made an
object. Brahman as pure consciousness, is
the eternal subject, and therefore cannot
be made an object of knowledge.
Unconditioned Brahman is described as
SATCHIDANANDA (Sat-Chit-Ananda)
existence-knowledge-bliss pure and absolute.
Existence,knowledge and bliss are not attributes
of Reality; they are its very stuff. Pure existence
is the same as pure knowledge and pure bliss.
Just as a mirage could not be seen without the
desert, which is its unrelated substratum, so also
the universe could not be seen if Brahman did
not exist as its substratum.
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