What is Brahman?

[Guest guest]

The question, ‘What is Brahmin?' occupies an important segment of our

discussions. The answer to the question contained in the question

itself!I tried to understand Brahman using random thoughts. My random

thoughts at the end brought more thoughts without an answer. I tried to

describe me without thoughts and quickely found out that I can't

describe me without an expression of any ‘thought!' Consequently I was

forced to write my perception of Brahman conceived through my beliefs:

 

Brahman is the one who is caring about you.

Brahman is the one who misses you.

Brahman is the one who wants to talk to you.

Brahman is the one who wants to be with you.

Brahman is the one who hopes you are not in trouble.

Brahman is the one who is thankful for your support.

Brahman is the one who wants to hold your hand.

Brahman is the one who hopes everything turns out all right.

Brahman is the one who wants you to be happy.

Brahman is the one who wants to give you a gift.

Brahman is the one who wants to hug you.

Brahman is the one who thinks you are a Gift.

Brahman is the one who admires your strength.

Brahman is the one who is thinking of you and smiling.

Brahman is the one who supports and protects you.

Brahman is the one who can't wait to see you.

Brahman is the one who loves you for what you are.

Brahman is the one who nourishes and treasures your spirit.

Brahman is the one who treats you as a friend or as a foe.

Brahman is the one who praises and abuses you at various times..

Brahman is the one who knows you better and wants you to know Him

better.

Brahman is the one who makes you to feel that He is for you.

Brahman is the one who makes you to feel that He will do anything for

you.

Brahman also makes you to feel that He will do nothing for you.

Brahman stands, sits, walks, talks, laughs, eats, sleeps and dreams with

you.

Brahman thinks, sees, touches, tastes, hears, talks and argues with you.

Brahman is the dream and wakes you from your dream.

Brahman is the bridge between life and death.

Brahman is the life and makes you the player.

Brahman is the need and the support for your needs.

Brahman is the faith and makes you to believe.

Brahman is the thought to take you beyond your thoughts.

Brahman is the ego to destroy your ego.

Brahman is neither good nor bad.

Brahman is neither knowledge nor ignorance.

Brahman is the belief to take you beyond your belief.

Brahman is the cause of all causes.

Brahman is the question and also the answer.

Brahman is the Soul and the Spirit.

Brahman is the Truth and nothing but the Truth.

 

After going through this exercise, I realized that this thought process

is not something new and ‘What is Brahman?' is an ancient question. The

sages and saints of ancient India have greater understanding of this

fundamental question. They have debated and elaborated ‘What is

Brahaman?' and summarized their thoughts in the Upanishads. For example,

beautiful explanations to ‘What is Brahman?' are readily available in

Kena Upanishad. Kena (also known as TalavakAra) Upanishad belongs to

Jaiminiya branch of the Samaveda. The word "Kena" means ‘by whom.' The

discussion contains two parts: The abstract first portion of Kena

Upanishad consists of Sanskrit verses with deeper meaning. The second

part of Kena Upanishad narrates an effective story to illustrate

Brahman. Excellent English translations of major Upanishads are

available in US and elsewhere. Recently, I bought a translation by

Patrick Olivelle and published by the Oxford University Press. This

book is available at the Border Book Stores for the bargain price of

$6.95 (paper back edition containing 450 pages). This will be a

valuable reference text on Vedanta (Hindu Philosophy) for interested

list members.

 

The author summarizes ‘What is Brahman?'by the statement: 'If you think

"I know it well"-perhaps you do know ever so little the visible

appearance of brahman; there is that part of it you know and there is

the part which is among the gods. And so I think what you must do is to

reflect on it, on that unknown part of it:'

 

Patrick Olivelle's translation of the Sanskrit verses in simple English

poems are provided below.

 

Kena Upanishad concludes that:

(1) Brahman is beyond the intellect and the senses!

(2) Any claim to know Brahman is a self contradiction!

(3) Brahman only knows the Brahman!

 

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By whom impelled, by whom compelled, does the mind soar forth?

By whom enjoined does the breath, march on as the first?

By whom is this speech impelled, with which people speak?

And who is the god that joins the sight and hearing?

That which is the hearing behind hearing,

the thinking behind thinking,

the speech behind speech,

the sight behind sight

It is also the breathing behind breathing

Freed completely from these,

the wise become immortal,

when they depart from this world.

Sight does not reach there;

neither does thinking or speech.

We don't know, we can't perceive,

how one would point it out.

It is far different from what's known,

And it is farther than the unknown

so have we heard from men of old,

who have explained it all to us.

Which one cannot express by speech,

by which speech itself is expressed

Learn that that alone is brahman,

and not what they here venerate.

Which one cannot grasp with one's mind,

by which, they say, the mind itself is grasped

Learn that that alone is brahman,

and not what they here venerate.

Which one cannot see with one's sight,

by which one sees the sight itself

Learn that that alone is brahman,

and not what they here venerate.

Which one cannot hear with one's hearing,

by which hearing itself is heard

Learn that that alone is brahman,

and not what they here venerate.

Which one cannot breathe through breathing,

by which breathing itself is drawn forth

Learn that that alone is brahman,

and not what they here venerate.

I do not think that I know it well;

But I know not that I do not know.

Who of us knows that, he does know that;

But he knows not, that he does not know.

It's envisioned by one who envisions it not;

but one who envisions it knows it not.

And those who perceive it perceive it not;

but it's perceived by those who perceive it not.

When one awakens to know it, one envisions it,

for then one gains the immortal state.

One gains power by one's self (&man),

And by knowledge, the immortal state.

If in this world a man comes to know it, to him belongs the real.

If in this world a man does not know it, great is his destruction.

Discerning it among each and every being,

the wise become immortal, when they depart from this world.

------.

Chandran

Burke, VA