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

Re: Faith in One�s Self [Re: VJR] #13832 - 03/23/02 04:25 PM Edit Reply Quote

Dear VJR, This is a Mahav�kya of the Br�hmana period, mentioned in the Upanishads. (Pre-Mah�bh�rata) Not only Aham Brahm�smi, but also Tat tvamasi (That are you: tat is in the napumsaka linga and implying Brahman) and Sarvam khalu brahma, ayam�tma brahma (Everything is Brahman, this Atman is Brahman). Why would Brahman say that he is Brahman. That wouldn't make any sense? The Rishis have had deep mediation and revealed only this great truth that Brahman says he's Brahman? Now what a waste of contemplation. Have the Rishis just spend so much time and a whole category of Brahmana and Upanishad scriptures to say this much? The Mah�v�kya Tat tvamasi was said by Rishi Udd�lak Aaruni who spoke to his son Shvetaketu: That-you-are. It a part of a longer sentence: Sa ya esho 'nim�., etad�tmyamidam sarvam tatsatyam sa �tm� tattvamasi shvetaketo iti. This which is so delicate, this itself is the Atman, this All, this Truth. [and] this Atman, that are you, Shvetaketu. (Chh�ndogya Upanishad 6-8-6,7) Note that Vy�sa V�sishtha was the writer of Mah�bh�rata (including the Giit�), Pur�nas AND the Ved�nta S�tra! It is not me but you who has come up with the cowdung or poop. But the matter is very simple. Man is not only Purusha (soul to use your word, I would prefer consciousness), but also Prakrti (Energy). I have repeatedly referred to Jiiv�tman as a having Purusha (Atman) AND Prakrti (Jiiva) blending together. The material part is the materialized part of Prakrti. How you would supply that to the non-living things? It depends how you define the word 'soul'. It's all about information. Everything animated or not-animated is full with information. Only the advanced living things have the ability to have a self-reflection, and that is their Purusha part. The Prakrti part is the non-selfconscious part. As both have created manifestations, being part of Brahman, it means that everything that evolves out of it IS part of Brahman. This has great consequences: It means that not only the beautiful or pleasant things are part of Brahman but also non-beautiful or unpleasant things. The most Sattvika is what remains Purusha or 'pure conscious", the most Tamasika is what remains Prakrti or 'pure materializing energy. And the Rajasika is what animated creatures are, having them both. So the poop part is the most tamasika part in and for man, but is again very useful for other creatures. Energy is never wasted in nature. I have to smile everytime you say something like "Mine" or "My" in reference to Hindu(ism). As I said before (exclusive) possessiveness is just creating distances and leading away from the true values! Owing something doesn't mean that you are that what you owe. It is OUR Hinduism, including everyone (non-exclusive possesiveness). But those who don't want to follow that universal path have made their own choices and paths. It's their choice. And I respect that. Edited by Ishwa on 03/23/02 03:22 PM (server time).