[selfknow-l] Infinity............. one or many??

[Guest guest]

Further dialogue about one or many infinity?

 

>From Leon

for reply (see below)

 

"One appearing as many"

Namste Jay,

 

I understand your points, and we shouldn't really get too bogged down in

Mathematics and language dictating reality (or Brahman) I agree.

 

However I feel that "One appearing as Many" is still a bit 'one' sided.

(pardon the pun)

 

My opinion would be that "The One is in the many, and the many are in the

One" - simultaneous, inconceivable difference and unity.

 

But then I suppose we have been influenced by different teachers (i.e

Vivekananda and Chaitanya)

 

Namaste........ Leon

 

=========

 

Dear Leon

 

Yes point taken - not keen just to be pedantic either but you have

raised very interesting technical questions about possible

limitation about one infinite or many infinities? This is

fascinating topic for many including the mathematicians.

It goes to the heart of Advaita philosophy. Dvaita

may respond that one in many and many in one is the

better explanation but then we have an arbitrariness in

that explanation - exactly what is the relation of the

one to the many and the many to the one. If both are

real then a real relationship must exist between them.

This will make the ONE limited by the limits of the many.

Any relationship that is put forward will be 'arbitrary'

and hence limiting..... the problem is solved by the

Advaita saying that One 'appears' as many

The word 'appears' manages to solve this problem of

arbitrariness or how one and many are related.

 

I do not claim to be an 'Advaiti' in any sense. I have yet to

meet a real 'advaiti'. All 'advaitis' I have met so far

have no clue about what they are dealing with. Apart from

doing little mental gymnastics that give them a kind of intellectual

kick they do very little else.

 

I rather side with a dvaiti who would say with all

humility "I donot feel that I am That" Hence I think of

God as separate from me and wish to reach

him by love and devotion. Glory to Sri Chaitanya

and to Sri Ramakrishna who advocated such intense love for

God.

 

jay

Vivekananda Centre London