Sri Shankaracharya has identified four profound Vedic statements called
Mahavakyas, supposed to be the essence of the four Vedas.
Tattvamasi - You are that
Aham Brahmasmi - I am Brahman
Prajnyanam Brahma - Consciousness is Brahman
Ayamatma Brahma - This Self is Brahman
All the above means that the "Absolute I or the Self" that is shining in all is
the all pervading absolute Brahman or the Supreme God who is obviously non-dual.
In Advaita it is very clear that the individual self or jiva = all pervading God
or Ishwara or Brahman which makes the entire dualistic universe an illusion.
But the tradition of Advaita with unbroken line of teacher-student, itself cannot
be there without duality. So there is a need to accept the world of dvaita or duality
with all the hierarchy as real, even for Advaitins.
If God is accepted as the all pervading Self then the world of duality can still
exist as His body.
The above VishishtAdvaitic view reconciles dvaita and advaita (dualism and
non-dualism). The non-duality of God as the all pervading Self remains unaffected
if the reality of the world in the form of His body is accepted.
Even the hierarchy among jivas with respect to Vishnu as per Dvaita is covered
in this Self-body relationship as there is difference as well as hierarchy among the
various parts of the body, with respect to the Self.
So the Self-body relation between God and the world which is uniquely Vedic,
reconciles all kinds of Vedic views.
The above also makes all other non-vedic, A-Brahamic views as half truths
(as they carve out a specific name/existence for their gods from the otherwise
all pervading Vedic truth or Brahman).
Only a Hindu who is grounded in this universal view can always SEE the same
divinity, no matter whatever name/form is used to identify the same.
But followers of Abrahamic views who do not SEE God everywhere cannot do that.
Their view is limited or finite as opposed to the unlimited infinite view of Hindus.
But the fact still remains that the existence, consciousness and bliss for all
beings whatever may be their world view, depends absolutely on the Hindu God,
manifesting as the universe.
So sincere truth seekers should not have any qualms in accepting the Vedic Hindu
world view where the entire universe is realized as the body of God.
All the above is summarized in the Vedic teaching - Sarvam khalvidam Brahma -
meaning "Everything is Brahman" - which could be taken as the essence of all
Vedas. The identification of everything with Brahman or God is through
sAmAnAdhikaraNya or concomitant coordination - where one entity alone is identified
through all the many entities. This exactly similar to the fact that the Soul alone is
identified through the body with name/form.
It is the art of looking at the same God enshrined in all as the indwelling Soul.
This God alone is identified through all name/forms.
It is also the art of looking at the whole that transcends all particulars or
dualities. When you are looking at everything, you are not looking at anything
in particular! So Advaita and Dvaita are happily reconciled here.
This one Mahamaha vAkya - Sarvam khalvidam Brahma" is enough for Hindus to make
the religion invincible. It consumes all other particular views and stands out blatantly
un-opposed for all times to come.
Namaste
Suresh
Mahavakyas, supposed to be the essence of the four Vedas.
Tattvamasi - You are that
Aham Brahmasmi - I am Brahman
Prajnyanam Brahma - Consciousness is Brahman
Ayamatma Brahma - This Self is Brahman
All the above means that the "Absolute I or the Self" that is shining in all is
the all pervading absolute Brahman or the Supreme God who is obviously non-dual.
In Advaita it is very clear that the individual self or jiva = all pervading God
or Ishwara or Brahman which makes the entire dualistic universe an illusion.
But the tradition of Advaita with unbroken line of teacher-student, itself cannot
be there without duality. So there is a need to accept the world of dvaita or duality
with all the hierarchy as real, even for Advaitins.
If God is accepted as the all pervading Self then the world of duality can still
exist as His body.
The above VishishtAdvaitic view reconciles dvaita and advaita (dualism and
non-dualism). The non-duality of God as the all pervading Self remains unaffected
if the reality of the world in the form of His body is accepted.
Even the hierarchy among jivas with respect to Vishnu as per Dvaita is covered
in this Self-body relationship as there is difference as well as hierarchy among the
various parts of the body, with respect to the Self.
So the Self-body relation between God and the world which is uniquely Vedic,
reconciles all kinds of Vedic views.
The above also makes all other non-vedic, A-Brahamic views as half truths
(as they carve out a specific name/existence for their gods from the otherwise
all pervading Vedic truth or Brahman).
Only a Hindu who is grounded in this universal view can always SEE the same
divinity, no matter whatever name/form is used to identify the same.
But followers of Abrahamic views who do not SEE God everywhere cannot do that.
Their view is limited or finite as opposed to the unlimited infinite view of Hindus.
But the fact still remains that the existence, consciousness and bliss for all
beings whatever may be their world view, depends absolutely on the Hindu God,
manifesting as the universe.
So sincere truth seekers should not have any qualms in accepting the Vedic Hindu
world view where the entire universe is realized as the body of God.
All the above is summarized in the Vedic teaching - Sarvam khalvidam Brahma -
meaning "Everything is Brahman" - which could be taken as the essence of all
Vedas. The identification of everything with Brahman or God is through
sAmAnAdhikaraNya or concomitant coordination - where one entity alone is identified
through all the many entities. This exactly similar to the fact that the Soul alone is
identified through the body with name/form.
It is the art of looking at the same God enshrined in all as the indwelling Soul.
This God alone is identified through all name/forms.
It is also the art of looking at the whole that transcends all particulars or
dualities. When you are looking at everything, you are not looking at anything
in particular! So Advaita and Dvaita are happily reconciled here.
This one Mahamaha vAkya - Sarvam khalvidam Brahma" is enough for Hindus to make
the religion invincible. It consumes all other particular views and stands out blatantly
un-opposed for all times to come.
Namaste
Suresh
