Ishwa helper Reged: 03/03/02 Posts: 553

Re: WHAT IS BRAHMAN? [Re: vinaire] #13230 - 03/11/02 06:04 AM Edit Reply Quote

Dear Vinaire and others, It is really great to be part of a discussion to reconstruct the Nivrtti or homeward path. I only do not agree with VJR about this, that the ancients did completely write down what the path is. How could they? The main path is like a highway. The ancients only wrote down the traffic signs and the direction signs. It is a kind of intuitive road map, nothing more. They didn't describe the feeling you will experience, only what Vrttis or thoughtcurves will (dis)appear and what Samsk�ras have to be 'burnt' to neutralility before finally the V�san�s are neutralized. I like the approach of especially Vinaire: to start first with the own experience, then look for verification and finally expressing in common language. That is how the ancients did themselves. The books can actually be used to verify the achievements to have the much-helpful feedback. The V�sishthas were already warning in the VII th Mandala of the RigVeda in the S�kta about the frogs not to be only repeating but also experiencing things themselve. Any scripture is a help, the Vedic literature is even an amazing help. But they're books full with wisdom which only becomes a reality when getting fuel to burn inside the cave of your heart to illuminate your mind and body. My approach is this I have to understand what is the mystery of creation back to where we can go. Secondly, I have to check that with the ancients. The ancients lay down a system that is like a great roadmap. But the ancients have different systems, how could I reconcile them to get a multilayered though nonconflicting system? I have reached a point thanks to Vinaire that I believe Brahman is not the Absolute Potentiality. The Sanskrit name for that Infiniteness is Para-Brahman = beyond Brahman. It is that which in the Yoga is described as Kaivalya, which is beyond anything known. It is that which the Baudhha Dharma calls the Para-Nirv�na Brahman comes from the root brh just like vrdh = barhn�. Brahman is a Relative Potential Cause. It is the stage where the "a' or nir' prefix is used. It is the Nirbiija stage, the Nirv�na, the svar�pe-avasth�nam, the Avyakta stage. The stage where both Purusha and Prakrti are without attributes, they're in the M�la or root/potentialility. This my reconstruction with the help of S�nkhya in the Pravrtti and Yoga in the Nirvrtti/Nivrtti focus of the map made by the abcients: I. PARABRAHMAN Absolute Potentiality. This is Infiniteness, beyond anything. 'Sam�dhi': Kaivalya or Para-Nirv�na Conscious if any: Turiiy�tiita, that is 'beyond turiiya. In Vedic Period this is ADITI. II. NIRGUNA BRAHMAN Relative Potential Cause. This is like Zero to me but also 1. (Binairy). I imagine them to be potentially intertwined, symbolically Potential Purusha is Zero and Potential Prakrti is 1: for me the zero has the 1 in the middle, both yet unmanifested. Nirvrtti --> Sam�dhi: Dharmamegha as Nirbiija or Nirv�na: the M�la-Dharman has to "vaporize" to become Sh�nya. Svar�pa 'avasth�nam = being in the own r�pa which is sva(yambhuva). Nirguna Brahman: Brahman is nir = different from guna= attributes: it is a relative potential, yet to manifest. Conscious: Turiiya In Vedic this may be Aditya: Mitr�Varun� in the dual.. III. SAGUNA BRAHMAN First Relative Effect. (I believe Saguna Brahman to be multidimensional with parallel universes) Nirvrtti -->Sabiija A-samprajn�ta Sam�dhi: VivekaKhy�ti or discrimitory faculty. Pravrtti --> Dosha: Avidya or not discriminating. This gives V�san� or cause to dwelling in.. Guna: Purusha has these attributes: Sattva-Rajas-Tamas. (also called Atman) Prakrti has these: Ak�sha-Dish�-K�la. (Also called Jiiva) Element: Ak�sha Kosha: Anandamaya, or that which gives the faculty of Ananda-enjoying. (Sat=Prakrti and Chit=Purusha) Conscious: Turiiya In Vedic Varuna is here the supreme force. His is Rtam or Cosmic Ordening. B. VYAKTA Second Relative Effect. This word is in the perfect tense, it means that it is accomplished. The Trinity is a accomplished: That of Relative Brahman that is manifested as 'pure' Purusha is Mah�-Ishvara (Atman). That which of Relative Brahman that is manifested as 'pure' Prakrti is Pr�krta, also Mah�-Pr�na or Energy (Jiiva or life force, the Greek bios). This Energy will be materialised till it is in later stages our physical matter. That which has both of relative Brahman that is Jiiv�tman or Mahat (equal to Cosmic Buddhi). Nirvrtti --> Sabiija Samprajn�ta Sam�dhi: Asmit�nugata. Asmita=I-Am-Ness. Pravrtti --> Dosha: Asmita or I-am-ness or Identification faculty. This gives Samsk�ra or im-pression. Element: V�yu Kosha: Vijn�namaya, that in which the jn�na or knowing gives a 'vi' or expanding enjoyment. Conscious: Sushupti In Vedic Indra is here the supreme force. C. VYAKTI Third Relative Effect. This word is an abstractum. This is where the Jiiv�tman is reflected in an Individual Chitta. Here I think that Chitta is somewhat like a unified Twinsoul which becomes drifted apart when evolving in the S�kshma Stage. Nirvrtti --> Sabiija Samprajn�ta Sam�dhi: Anand�nugata. Pravrtti --> Dosha: R�ga(-Dvesha): to get attracted towards or repulsed. This gives Samkalpa. Element: Tejas or transforming force (heat) K�ya: K�rana or causal body. The Nidr� (deep sleep) and Smrti (memory) are the Vrttis or thoughtcurves. Kosha: Manomaya, that which gives a primeval thoughtful enjoying. Conscious: Sushupti or deep sleep. In Vedic Agni is here the supreme force. 2. Buddhi or Intuitive Intellect (I'm looking for the right translation) The twinsouls are drifted apart and have still remembrance of the unity. They have subtle bodies and a dreamlike communication. Nirvrtti --> Sabiija Samprajn�ta Sam�dhi: Vich�ra (savich�ra is samprajn�ta and nirvich�ra is a-saprajn�ta). Pravrtti --> Dosha: (R�ga-)Dvesha. Element: Jala or fluid. K�ya: S�kshma or subtle body. Vikalpa (Imaginatory faculty) and Viparyaya (Illusionary faculty) are the Vrttis. Kosha: Pr�namaya that which has a fluid subtle energetic enjoying. Conscious: Svapna or dreaming. The Tanm�tras or subtle faculties of knowing. In Vedic times Vishnu is the supreme force. 3. Manas or Brain The twinsouls have different physical bodies and are longing for each other, and may (wrongly) see the twin in a person. Nirvrtti --> Sabiija Samprajn�ta Sam�dhi: Vitarka (savitarka is samprajn�ta and nirvitarka is a-samprajn�ta) Pravrtti --> Dosha: Abhinivesha or entering and attachment to the physical life. Element: Prthivii K�ya: Sth�la or physical body. Pram�na (logical faculty) is the Vrtti. Kosha: Annamaya or being fed by anna=that which can be consumed (from ad=to eat, consume) either food or sex. Conscious: J�grti or awake. The Indriyas or physical faculty of acting and knowing. In Vedic times Rudra is the supreme force. This is the map which I reconstructed on the basis of the systems laid down by the ancients. This map is for me the startpoint for my intuitive inflectory search or re-membering of my Atma-tva or Brahma-tva. This map is certainly not final, but it is just my starting point. I wouldn't be surprised if i have to remodel this, through own or supplemantary (of others) experiences. The goal is ownly to understand what was meant and what is practical for us. For the rest we have to plunge by ourself in Saguna Brahman to reach the shores of Nirguna Brahman Ocean. Only then we can plunge deeply in Para-Brahman. I hope this will inspire others to proceed on this Atman-Brahman Project with an open searching mind without too much established or pre-concieved ideas.