All About Bharatiya Sanatana Dharmam otherwise known as Hinduism : 12 Continued- Swami Sivananda.

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Saturday, June 30, 2022. 6:00. AM.

Chapter - 12.

Hindu Philosophy-II

(The Schools of Vedanta)

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1. THE ADVAITA PHILOSOPHY OF SRI SWAMI ADI SANKARACHARYA :


BRAHMAN—THE ONE WITHOUT A SECOND :


The Atman is self-evident (Svatah-siddha). It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is

not possible to deny the Atman, because It is the very essence of the one who denies It. The Atman

is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions and proofs. Self is within, Self is without;

Self is before, Self is behind; Self is on the right, Self is on the left; Self is above and Self is below.


Brahman is not an object, as It is Adrisya, beyond the reach of the eyes. Hence the

Upanishads declare: “Neti Neti—not this, not this, not that.” This does not mean that Brahman is a

negative concept, or a metaphysical abstraction, or a nonentity, or a void. It is not another. It is

all-full, infinite, changeless, self-existent, self-delight, self-knowledge and self-bliss. It is Svarupa,

essence. It is the essence of the knower. It is the Seer (Drashta), Transcendent (Turiya) and Silent

Witness (Sakshi).


Sankara’s Supreme Brahman is impersonal, Nirguna (without Gunas or attributes),

Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without special characteristics), immutable, eternal and Akarta

(non-agent). It is above all needs and desires. It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never

become an object as It is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual, one without a

second. It has no other beside It. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman

cannot be described, because description implies distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished

from any other than It. In Brahman, there is not the distinction of substance and attribute.

Sat-Chit-Ananda constitute the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just Its attributes.


The Nirguna Brahman of Sankara is impersonal. It becomes a personal God or Saguna

Brahman only through Its association with Maya.


Saguna Brahman and Nirguna Brahman are not two different Brahmans. Nirguna Brahman

is not the contrast, antithesis or opposite of Saguna Brahman. The same Nirguna Brahman appears

as Saguna Brahman for the pious worship of devotees. It is the same Truth from two different points

of view. Nirguna Brahman is the higher Brahman, the Brahman from the transcendental viewpoint

(Paramarthika); Saguna Brahman is the lower Brahman, the Brahman from the relative viewpoint

(Vyavaharika).


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Next-THE WORLD—A RELATIVE REALITY


To be continued ....

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