Iswara [personal God]

[Guest guest]

, Viorica Weissman <viorica@z...> wrote:

>

> Q : Is there a separate being Iswara [personal God]

> who is the rewarder of virtue and punisher of

> sins? Is there a God?

>

> A : Yes.

>

> Q: What is he like?

>

> A: Iswara has individuality in mind and body,

> which are perishable, but at the same time

> he has also the transcendental consciousness

> and liberation inwardly.

>

> Iswara, the personal God, the supreme creator of

> the universe really does exist.

> But this is true only from the relative standpoint

>

> of those who have not realised the truth,

> those people who believe in the reality of

> individual souls. From the absolute standpoint

> the sage cannot accept any other existence than

> the impersonal Self, one and formless.

>

> Iswara has a physical body, a form and a name,

> but it is not so gross as this material

> body. It can be seen in visions in the form

> created by the devotee.

> The forms and names of God are many and various

> and differ with each religion.

> His essence is the same as ours, the real Self

> being only one and without form.

> Hence forms he assumes are only creations or

> appearances.

>

> Iswara is immanent in every person and every

> object throughout the universe.

> The totality of all things and beings constitutes

> God. There is a power out of which a small

> fraction has become all this universe,

> and the remainder is in reserve.

> Both this reserve power plus the manifested power

> as material world together constitute Iswara.

>

>

> Q: So ultimately Iswara is not real?

> A: Existence of Iswara follows from our conception

>

> of Iswara. Let us first know whose concept he

> is. The concept will be only according to the

> one who conceives. Find out who you are

> and the other problems will solve themselves.

>

>

> Iswara, God, the creator, the personal God,

> is the last of the unreal forms to go.

> Only the absolute being is real.

> Hence, not only the world, not only the ego,

> but also the personal God are of unreality.

> We must find the absolute – nothing else.

>

> SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI

 

Namaste All,

 

Which is the same thing as saying what Sanakara did. 'It is real

whilst one is in it'. He also said all the intellectualising won't

save you at the hour of death and advised Bhaja Govindam.

 

If you are not a jivanmukti then the world and Iswara exist, even if

you don't have to believe it. They have relative validity, and sadhana

or purification is necessary to be aware.....ONS....Tony.